Around the world, people involved with shipping are booking flights to
Around the world, people involved with shipping are booking flights to
The business week begins with The Posidonia Congress and a programme of high level international presentations and debate, at the Megaron, Athens Concert Hall on Monday 3 June.
Before this, a new event, The Posidonia Cup 2002 sailing race, described as challenging, exciting and fun, will take place off Piraeus on Friday 31 May.
Posidonia`s attraction for exhibitors and visitors is not hard to see. Greek shipowners control the biggest fleet in the world. Their drive towards fleet renewal and regeneration is creating multi billion US dollar opportunities throughout the international maritime industry. Current Sale & Purchase (S & P) deals average US$ 86 million a week.
Greek owners control some 4,000 ships totalling over 155 million dwt. Enormous business potential flows from this. Just to keep this massive and highly diverse fleet trading costs around US$5 billion a year.
In April 2002, the Greek shipowners` order book stood at about 250 newbuildings, worth almost US$7 billion shipyards around the world now regard Greek buyers as their most important customers.
And Greek operators dominate the second hand ship market. Last year, S&P and demolition transactions involved 547 ships worth US$ 4.65 billion.
Posidonia typifies Greek shipowners` ability to combine the serious business of world shipping with close personal business relationships, warmth and hospitality. It is a wonderful and unique opportunity to see and be seen, to make new contacts and strengthen existing relationships, is how the CEO of one company put it.
There is a huge social calendar. Receptions range from the formal and lavish, for over 2,500 guests, to smaller, more intimate gatherings. They start the week before Posidonia opens and continue long after the exhibition has closed.
Posidonia 2002 is the 18th biennial International Shipping Exhibition to be held in Greece. It already looks set to break all records. Exhibition space at the Piraeus Port Authority Exhibition Centre on Akti Miaouli has been increased by over 10% to cope with demand.
Germany and Singapore return with national pavilions at Posidonia after several years` absence. They join current national pavilion exhibitors including Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Japan, Korea, Malta, The Netherlands, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA, Hong Kong SAR and Romania.
The People`s Republic of China has enlarged its exhibition space and will include first time exhibitor COSCO Shipyard.
There is also increased interest in the ports sector, including the Association of Sea Commercial Ports of Russia.
The Posidonia Congress
The 2nd Posidonia Congress 2002 starts the business week, on Monday 3rd June. It has already attracted leading industry figures, both as speakers and delegates.
The Congress has two clear objectives. The first is to examine the role of sea transport in a rapidly changing world. The second is to evaluate the public image of shipping.
Keynote addresses will be given by:
- Mr. George Anomeritis, Greek Minister of Mercantile Marine
- Ms. Loyola de Palacio, Vice President of the European Commission
Speakers include:
- Dr. Kenneth S. Courtis, Vice Chairman – Asia, Goldman Sachs
- Mr. Phillipe Louis-Dreyfus, President of the French Shipowners Association
- Mr. Stelios Haji-Ioannou, Chairman of easyGroup
- Mr. K.H. Koo, Chairman of The Hong Kong Shipowners Association
- Mr. Harald Kuznic, Head of Shipping, Landesbank Schleswig-Holstein Girozentrale
- Mr. Tom Mangold, Senior Investigative Reporter, BBC TV Current Affairs
- Mr. Nicholas P. Tsakos, Chairman of Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA)
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
