Simeon Palios, the founder and president of Diana Shipping Inc, sees atomic energy as a solution of the future for zero pollution in shipping.
Speaking at the “1st Chios International Shipping Summit”, organized by the Department of Shipping and Business Services of the University of the Aegean, Palios estimated that atomic energy is the solution.
Regarding alternative fuels, he had earlier stated that “different fuel scenarios are under consideration, including hydrogen, methanol and ammonia, with the aim of decarbonizing shipping, but these alternatives do not lead to zero CO2 emissions.”
On the issue of financing the sector, from the capital markets, he noted that the Athens Stock Exchange does not have sufficient volume and only the New York Stock Exchange has the potential for significant financing.
He also stated that bureaucracy is a key factor that prevents the inclusion of Greek-owned ships in the Greek flag.
On his part, the president of the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee, Charalambos Fafalios, focused his speech on the Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS), which will also apply to shipping as of 2024. As he said, “the ETS system is essentially a tool for over taxation. In Europe sham taxes have been imposed to improve the environment. However, most of them did not really contribute to the protection of the environment, but to the increase in the cost of everyday life of the citizens.”
Ηe also stressed that “the EU-ETS in practice does not aim at decarbonization and creates conditions for speculation, as the costs will be borne by the charterers, who will then pass it on to consumers”, adding: “By adopting regional policies, it is expected to create problems in maritime trade, as ships will bypass European ports because costs will be increased.”
