www.TheSeaNation.gr

Ευχαριστώ τους οργανωτές για την πρόσκληση να συμμετέχω σ΄ αυτή τη συναντηση με το τόσο σημαντικό θέμα της επίδρασης της ναυτιλίας στη διεθνή κοινωνία.

Είναι γεγονός, ότι η ανάπτυξη της ναυτιλίας παράλληλα συμβάλλει στην αναπτυξη της διεθνούς κοινωνίας και όχι μόνο, διότι είναι πολλές οι μορφές επιδράσεως της ναυτιλίας στο διεθνή χώρο που θα αναπτυχθούν από ομιλητές, σήμερα εδώ.

Εγώ θέλω να αναφερθώ στο πολιτιστικό στοιχείο και την αλληλοεπικοινωνία των λαών μέσα από τη ναυτιλία.

Minister,
Representatives of the Opposition,
Ambassadors,
Chairmen/Presidents,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning,

“The Global Impact of Shipping”. Now there’s a subject that I can speak on for hours; from its contribution to humanity to is contribution to technology.

Shipping does have a huge inpact on all aspects of our daily life and I am sure that the distinguished speakers at todays conference will amaze and please some of us as much as they will introduce controversial concepts that will disappoint others.

Many of the obstacles which undermine the smooth and efficient operation of maritime transportation , will be presented today.

Hopefully these views will serve as a catalyst for the meaningful discussions around the solutions to these problems.

Maritime transportation is rightfully acknowleged as the most efficient mode of transportation, both financially and environmentaly, ton-mile for ton-mile compared to any other mode in use today, Hollywood excluded.

The contribution of commercial shipping in dealing with global problems is evident in its services to developing nations and impoverished populations by its collaboration with various UN and Charitable organizations.

Enviromentally we are a ostensibly “clean” industry yet, we have grabed the “climate change bull” by the horns and are producing more efficient hull forms and more efficient engines.

As an industry we are spending millions on developing and implementing the use of alternative fuels and other ways of reducing our environmental footprint, from burning LNG to Cold ironing in ports all over the world.

As in every high valued industry there are the occasionally narrow minded inexperienced or unqualified bureaucrats who introduce legislation that inadvertedly harms the less fortunate sections of the populations that the policies were introduced to protect.

I would like to focus on the cultural benefits of merchant shipping.

We should not disregard the significant effect of maritime transport to the understanding between peoples and the nations.

Shipping professions are a common denominator between people of different cultures. Either at sea or in land based shipping professions , there is a common “ language” and understanding among the members of the shipping community.

This is an universal culture that characterises the worldwide maritime cluster, the effect of which, I believe, is bringing down barriers and is improving global understanding. Every nation has its own maritime cluster, whether it is virtual or physical, and it encompasses all the industry sectors of its nation. Greece has its own maritime cluster (Maritime Hellas – Navigate the Greek Cluster) which encompasses all parts of the Greek Shipping industry throughout Greece. I believe George Alexandratos, the Deputy Chairman of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, will elaborate on this later in the day.

Multiculturalism is a basic ingredient of globalisation not only for our economies, but for fostering an environment that produces modern citizens of the World.

I once came across the crew list of a cruise ship, which consisted of 17 differing nationalities who worked harmoniously to ensure the overall efficient and safe operation of the vessel as is required in this particular shipping sector.

People actively involved in day to day, routine matters in ports all around the world successfully cross language, ethnicity, cultural boundaries to solve complex shipping problems involving such matters as Bills of Lading, security, customs, shipboard operations such as loading or discharging, etc. that are invariably complicated by unique local conditions and regulations.

These are all solved daily, without any fanfare, with communications that invariably start with the expression “My friend ....” by people of different nationalities and with limited language skills but with the common, universal “language” of the maritime industry.
How our World would be, if this work ethics model was globally the norm? Perhaps shipping has a bigger impact on society and can offer more to the world than we presently realize, beyond technology and beyond financially efficient mass transportation systems.

In truth we all deserve a pat on the back, not only for our environmental record, but also for our safety record and our contribution to society.

I am sure that the theme of this conference, with the impressive list of contributing speakers, will result in interesting and productive discussions and we will all leave with a more positive image of the shipping industry.

I hope I was also able to contribute to this conference by putting forward a particular aspect of the global impact of shipping,

Thank you for your attention.