Fafalios (Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee ) raises concerns over seafarer safety

A danger signal for the safety of seafarers, from the hybrid threats that “lurk” in many maritime areas of the planet, was sent by the president of the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee in London, Haralambos Fafalios.

More specifically, Fafalios pointed out: “In 2025, the conflict in Gaza subsided, while the war in Ukraine worsened.

At the same time, we observe that the waters around Venezuela are turning into a high-risk environment. Between the various conflicts and the numerous areas of the world that are under sanctions, the environment for seafarers and ships is becoming increasingly less safe, while there are insufficient safety controls to ensure the lives of all seafarers. With missiles and mines targeting ships on the high seas and in ports, so far we have been lucky that more lives have not been lost.”

Fafalios also referred to the decarbonization of shipping unaddressed either.  “The solution for zero carbon emissions from shipping does not yet exist and will not be implemented in the next 10 to 20 years. Therefore, imposing additional taxes will not lead to a cleaner world. Those who impose these taxes must be responsible for finding real solutions. No member of the environmental lobby has presented a workable solution for the future fuel needs of shipping. Only sanctions, no rewards.”

In any case, however, the Committee, like the global shipping industry, is firmly in favor of global – under the International Maritime Organization – solutions for shipping. “Shipping needs global solutions and in particular tramp shipping, which includes the majority of the global fleet, cannot rely on piecemeal solutions that are not yet reliable and, above all, do not ensure safety,” Fafalios noted and spoke harshly about the Net Zero Framework.

ΔΙΑΒΑΣΤΕ ΕΠΙΣΗΣ

Η Ιαπωνία ξόδεψε περισσότερα από 70 δισ. δολάρια για να στηρίξει το γεν – Εκείνο βυθίζεται κοντά σε χαμηλό 40 ετών 

Greek flag

The Greek shipping industry is the largest shipping nation in the world, with an extensive global merchant fleet and the largest number of new low-carbon ships. As a result of this order book, the Greek fleet continues to renew itself and offer increasingly flexible solutions to maritime transport needs.

However, in order to encourage the Greek fleet to support its base, namely the Greek flag and Greek seafarers, Fafalios called on the Greek maritime administration to continue its progress towards reducing bureaucracy and increasing its efficiency. Greek maritime education also needs to be improved, he added, with more places for students, more instructors and upgraded infrastructure. At the same time, the government must encourage and further strengthen long-term, high-level representation in both the IMO and the European Union.