Tag: Greece

Pirate rumor mill goes crazy as Pirate groups fight over ransom negotiations Claims that at least six Somali pirates were killed and three others were captured by the crew of the Greek owned MT Liquid Velvet chemical tanker which was hijacked last week, are up for debate due to infighting among pirates, according to several pirates who spoke to Somalia Report."Six of our colleagues were killed by the hostages who escaped while the ship was coming to the coastal city of Harardhere in Mudug region. We will retaliate against our enemy," said Abdi, a pirate.Abdi explained that the fighting broke out when the pirates were trying to search the pockets of the crew.Dahir Aden Shuriye, who claimed to be a relative of one of the dead pirates, confirmed the incident and told Somalia Report that the ship signaled NATO a few minutes after the clash ended.Mohamed Ahmed, a pirate source, disputes the claims and said no fight broke out and that the pirates were chewing khat, a stimulant herb, when they spoke to Somalia Report, suggesting that the pirates were impaired.Mohamed Ahmed also said that a number of pirates in the Harardere and Garacad area made up the rumor after ...

22 people on board - Liquid Velvet Somali pirates have hijacked a Greek-owned chemical tanker with 22 people on board in the Gulf of Aden and are taking the vessel towards the Somali coast, a regional maritime expert and a pirate said on Tuesday.The Marshall Islands-flagged Liquid Velvet was seized on Monday in the Gulf of Aden en route to India. The 11,599 DWT vessel is owned by the Greek firm Elmira Tankers, according to the firm's website."It was taken yesterday. It was going from Suez and heading to India," maritime editor Andrew Mwangura said.Increasingly well-armed and violent Somali pirate gangs are expected to carry out more attacks as the monsoon season ends and the seas off the Horn of Africa flatten.A pirate who gave his name as Khalif confirmed the attack."We have hijacked the tanker and it is due to anchor near the shores of Garad," Khalif told Reuters by telephone from the pirate haven of Dhanane.Piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean costs the world economy billions of dollars a year. British Prime Minister David Cameron has said British merchant ships off the coast of Somalia will soon be allowed to carry armed guards.Pirates operating ...

Delegation warns US of trade disruption and calls for armed guards on vessels at risk Greek shipowners have warned of havoc on vital international ocean trades if the menace of piracy is not curtailed more effectively.The message was spelt out "in no uncertain terms" by a delegation of Greek owners who visited Washington this month, meeting rulemakers and officials including US Secretary of Transportation Ray La Hood."They understand the implications if the transport chain is disrupted, which obviously it may be if seafarers are not willing to go into the Indian Ocean, for example," said a source close to the trip, which took place under the auspices of the Union of Greek Shipowners.One owner said: "There is a tendency in the US to think that piracy in the Indian Ocean has very little to do with them. But they understand the implications for trade and we also pointed out the mounting cost of piracy to the American consumer."A report in IFW's sister publication, Lloyd's List, said Greek-controlled shipping was estimated to carry about 20% of US imports and exports, a share partly reflecting the fact that Greek owners on average operate larger ships than many other nationalities.The Union of Greek ...

Pirates Claim First Major Success in Months Somali pirates have hijacked the Greek-owned MT Liquid Velvet, finally bringing to an end a dry spell that has stretched back months, maritime sources told Somalia Report.The ship, which has 21 Filipino crew members and an unarmed security expert of unknown nationality, was taken in the Gulf of Aden on Monday in position 1202 North - 04538 East.The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker is owned and managed by Athens-based Elmira Tankers.Source: Neptune Maritime Security

RINA's activities in Greece have been reinforced by the opening of a Piraeus training centre International certification, verification and ship classification company RINA is celebrating its ties with Greece on its 150th anniversary. Formed in Genoa, Italy, in 1861 as a ship classification society, RINA is today a global multidisciplinary and multi-cultural company with growing business in Greece and the surrounding region.Speaking at a reception to mark the event held on board the SS Hellas Liberty in Piraeus, Mr Ugo Salerno, CEO, RINA, said, "We are very happy to be here in Greece today, celebrating both our growing relationships with Greek partners and our 150 years of experience and tradition. We share the goals of our partners here, working to build a sound resilient business, respecting people, community and environment. We provide experience and competence to support industry in improving its operations, and society in improving the quality of life. We are celebrating on board this historic ship, Hellas Liberty, which is also a symbol of Greek shipping history. Nowadays it is important to look back to our roots, to find the inspiration and the enthusiasm for future challenges.""We are active in every area of industry, transportation and environmental protection ...

To stave off an attack on maritime jobs, pay and pensions Seafarers are starting a rolling programme of action in Greek ports to stave off an attack on maritime jobs, pay and pensions.The workers, represented by the ITF-affiliated Pan-Hellenic Seamen's Federation (PNO), have announced that the programme of 48-hour strikes will start on 17 October. The action responds to the Greek government's attack on maritime workers' employment and pensions rights and follows a series of talks with politicians that ended in deadlock.The union is demanding that the government safeguard current and future job opportunities in the industry, retain social benefits, including pensions, and upgrade maritime training and retraining activities. It also wants the ship owners to re-enter national collective bargaining negotiations so that wages can be upgraded.John Halas, general secretary of PNO, said: "Greek seafarers are determined to defend with dynamism their rights from the cruel attack of the Greek government and will not allow the extermination of Greek seafaring, with a thousand years of history and contribution to the nation."Source: ITF

From ERMA FIRST S.A A very successful forum was held Tuesday 27th of September, by the 1st Greek Manufacturer, ERMA FIRST ESK Engineering Solutions S.A., who has designed, certified and manufactured an integrated Ballast Water Management System.More than 250 people, executives from the largest Greek Shipping companies attended the forum thus supporting a major effort made by a Greek company.ERMA FIRST comprised of young scientists, managed to create a high standards Ballast Water Treatment System.During the forum the regulations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the Ballast Water and Sediment Control Convention, 2004 were presented and analyzed while attendants were thoroughly informed about the latest developments in the legislative context, testing and sampling board, issues of great concern for the shipping and managing companies. Participants had the chance to understand the particular features of ERMA FIRST as a distinguished solution on board.Distinguished presenters as Dr. Stephan Gollash, worldwide reputable, academically recognized Marine Biologist, pioneer in the domain of sampling on board and shipboard testing, analyzed the procedure of sampling and the future challenges related to the Regulation Implementation and On-board Surveying/Sampling by Authorities and Coast Guards.And Mr. Frank Fuhr, distinguished Marine Biologist, Senior Researcher of the reputable NIOZ (The ...

To better support the large Greek fleet, Kongsberg Maritime opens new office in the port of Piraeus To better support the large Greek fleet, Kongsberg Maritime now has opened office in the port of Piraeus.With over 4.000 vessels, Greek ship owners control the world's largest merchant fleet, involved internationally in the cargo and passenger trade.There are around 700 shipping companies in the Athens and Piraeus area, so it was important for KONGSBERG to establish presence in Greece to better support its clients.Terje Dyhre (33) is General Manager for the new office. He started at Kongsberg Maritimes office at Bekkajordet in Horten, Norway in 2004 as Field Engineer. He became Operatinal Coordinator for the same department December 2008, and then team leader for section Manager Field Service Customer Support Department.He moved to Greece July this year."I see this as a great challenge, and it is motivating to participate in building the business from scratch", he says.Liquefied natural gasKongsberg Maritime Hellas has 14 staff, and combines customer support and sales from the same location in the port of Piraeus. It will perform service in the local area and in southern Europe. The large Greek ferry fleet sails with a lot of Kongsberg ...

The port authorities of Piraeus and Thessalonica The Greek government has put forward a plan to privatise part of the port authorities of Piraeus and Thessalonica - a move hotly contested by local organised labour unions.At present, the Greek state holds a 74% of the shares in both Piraeus Port Authority (OLP) and Thessalonica Port Authority (OLTH) that are currently quoted on the Athens stock market and 100% of the remaining non-quoted equity. Under the plan, shares would be sold on to a strategic investor.In addition, consolidation of Greek ports is also proposed. Those in the Attica region (Piraeus, Elefsina, Rafina and Lavrio) are to combined under one port administration and the others (Thessalonica, Kavala, Volos, Alexandroupolis, Heraklion, Patrasso, Corfu and Igoumenitsa) another.Source: Port Strategy

The Greek office will be fully operational by November A much anticipated office expected to deepen the Bahamas Maritime Authoritys (BMA) presence in Greece is set to open by November.Chairman of the BMA Ian Fair has confirmed that both the Greece office and a Hong Kong office will be fully operational by the end of the year. Both offices are expected to expand the country's registry by 10 percent, with plans in motion to boost the countrys image in those jurisdictions.We will have the Greece office fully operational by November, he told Guardian Business. We will have more staff than the Hong Kong office. We have not determined exactly how much staff yet, but it will be six people immediately.The move comes as the nations influence spreads in China, with BMA officials invited to speak in Tianjin, China in October, where it will make a technical presentation to the Hong Kong Shipowners Association.Fair asserts marketing is important in the region.Thats a key thing for that region... but more people are aware now that The Bahamas has a presence in East Asia.We have some plans for October to do some more .Fair has said the recent move to Hong Kong was a ...