With less than two months to go until the latest edition of the world’s most famous shipping show, Posidonia organisers have been keen to highlight how Greek shipyards are coming back as a force.
Posidonia is taking place in Athens from June 3 to 7 with Greece’s revitalised shipyards set to be prominently represented. The renaissance follows on from the completion of the consolidation of the country’s shipbuilding units in Syros and in Elefsina, as well as the restart of the Skaramangas shipyard and the increased activity in Halkida.
Neorion Shipyard in Syros and Elefsis Shipyard have repaired more than 500 ships, foreign and Greek-owned, since New York-based ONEX Shipyards and Technologies took over their operations in 2019.
“Greece is resurfacing as a credible shipbuilding cluster for vessel repair, conversion and potentially for the construction of newbuildings for Greek and international shipowners and naval forces. This revival follows decades of underperformance and underinvestment, marked by the absence of a strategic vision,” said Theo Vokos, managing director of Posidonia Exhibitions.
Shipyard output is now estimated to account for 1% of Greek GDP.
“A strong shipbuilding sector creates the conditions for upgrading national defence, contributes decisively to the national economy and the green transition and strengthens Greece’s position in the regional geopolitical arena through the implementation of major projects with international significance,” said Panos Xenokostas, president and CEO of ONEX.
Over 85 shipyards from 26 countries have already confirmed their participation at the Splash-sponsored Posidonia, with this site deploying a network of correspondents to provide unique coverage of the week-long biennial show.
