Greece’s Shipping Ministry Prepares for Green Transition

Port of Piraeus.

Greek Shipping Minister Christos Stylianidis announced this week a series of actions including the creation of a maritime cluster that will ensure the green transition of Greece ports and ships.

The ministry’s action plan focuses on four key areas, said Stylianidis:

• the renewal of the coastal shipping fleet with new ‘greener’ ships, to be implemented through a public – private partnership and budgeted at 360 million euros;
• the utilization of RRF funds in shipping;
• the energy transformation of Greek ports focusing on electrification options;
• and the creation of a “maritime cluster” that will include services and operations across the shipping industry chain including shipyards, shipbuilding and mechanical equipment and repair companies.

Greek Shipping Minister Christos Stylianidis at a workshop for the safe electrification of electric and hybrid vessels.

Underlining the importance of the blue economy, Stylianidis said the OECD estimates it will reach a value of 1.5 trillion dollars projected to double by 2030.

“The industry’s transition to the era of decarbonization, the use of new zero-carbon fuels, as well as digitalization, introduce a new dynamic to this blue economy and Greece can play a leading role. The basic condition is cooperation. Cross-sectoral cooperation with all agencies involved: shipowners, shipyards, fuel producers, surveyors, ports, research departments, and of course politicians, we are all in the same boat. It’s the only way we will succeed,” he said.