By George Fokianos

Greece's participation in Europort 2025—the leading international exhibition for special purpose vessels, held November 4-7 at the "Ahoy" exhibition centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands—was once again supported by Enterprise Greece.

Europort, which is organised every two years, is one of the most important international exhibitions in the maritime sector. For 2025, it attracted more than 23,000 industry professionals from 87 countries, with the participation of 1,100 exhibitors and 13 national pavilions, making it the leading B2B platform for networking and exchange of know-how in the shipbuilding sector. Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe, was once again the ideal meeting place for the presentation of innovative technologies and the discussion of the challenges and opportunities of modern shipping.

Greece's participation featured 16 dynamic companies that showcased the dynamism, innovation and extroversion of the Greek shipping industry. The exhibits of the Greek companies combined traditional industrial products and equipment with advanced technological applications and green solutions, reflecting the multidimensional character and global competitiveness of the Greek shipping industry. The Greek pavilions, located in prominent locations of the exhibition, attracted the interest of visitors and confirmed – once again – the leading position of Greece in the global shipping landscape.

The strong presence of Greek businesses, under the umbrella of Enterprise Greece, reflects the country's steadfast vision for sustainable development, technological innovation and continuous strengthening of the extroversion of Greek shipping.

The CEO of Enterprise Greece, Dr. Marinos Giannopoulos, noted: "Greek shipping is not just a sector of the economy; it is a vehicle of innovation, adaptability and sustainable development."

The participation of Greek maritime industrial equipment companies in Europort 2025 proves that Greece is pioneering the transition towards clean and green shipping, investing in environmentally friendly technologies, innovative products and specialized human resources. Enterprise Greece firmly supports this strategic path, supporting the international visibility and global footprint of Greek shipping.

Historical milestone for the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee

A landmark event for Greek shipping was held on November 12, 2025, at the historic Goldsmith's Hall in London, marking the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee (G.S.C.C.).

The anniversary brought together prominent figures from the shipping and political sectors, underlining the institution's unwavering role in international shipping developments and its deep connection with the Greek shipping community.

Historical review

The President of the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee of London, Haralambos Fafalios, in his speech, referred to the course of the Committee.

Fafalios said that the original name of the Committee was "Greek Shipping Stabilisation Committee". It was established in 1935 with the aim of bringing some stability to the shipping markets after the economic recession.

It became the main channel of communication between the Greek government and the Ministry of War Transport of the United Kingdom, in 1941. It coordinated all matters concerning the Greek merchant fleet and its crucial role in the warship escort system, which ensured the supply of all essential goods to the United Kingdom and other Allied countries.

Cooperation with the Union of Greek shipowners

As Fafalios said, over the years the Committee has worked closely with the Union of Greek Shipowners. The two unions have worked harmoniously to address all the important maritime, environmental and economic issues facing the Greek shipping industry. The location of the offices in London, one of the world's leading shipping centers, has allowed it to cultivate very close relationships with all the organizations based here, including the Baltic Exchange, Lloyd's of London, Lloyd's Register, P & I Clubs, International Chamber of Shipping, Intercargo, Intertanko, IMO, not to mention the most important shipbrokers, lawyers, bankers and accounting firms.

The challenges

Regarding the challenges facing shipping today, whether national or international, they will always be addressed with the dedication of the organization, in close cooperation with the Union of Greek Shipowners.

"While global shipping must be reactive and proactive in the face of global events, we believe that there should be only one authority, the IMO, which should be the main regulator of our industry on a global basis and be responsible for shaping all international maritime legislation," stressed Fafalios.

Regarding the most important issue of the time, the problem of decarbonizing shipping, Fafalios emphasized that solutions have not yet been found and it is needed to create workable ideas for the future with truly green fuels, as opposed to half-baked options that do not work. The Net Zero framework, explained the GSCC president, is another example that requires the contribution of the shipping industry and is not determined by politicians alone. It is vital that IMO representatives better understand shipping and create more effective and practical regulations.