The Posidonia Congress

The first Posidonia Congress was held in conjunction with Posidonia 2000 at the magnificent Megaron - Athens Concert Hall. Attended by leading figures from the Greek and international shipping community, senior government representatives, Posidonia exhibitors and visitors, the Congress established a programme of high-level discussions and debate that will set a pattern for the first day of Posidonia 2002. The opening ceremony of the Congress on the morning of Monday 3rd June will also mark the start of Posidonia week.The Posidonia Congress is under the auspices of the Union of Greek Shipowners and the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee and will be chaired by John C. Lyras, the President of UGS.

Venue: Megaron, The Athens Concert Hall

Tickets available through Posidonia Exhibition SA

Posidonia Exhibition

Venue: OLP, Piraeus Exhibition Centre

Full program and details will be available shortly.

For information and registration, contact:

Posidonia Exhibitions SA

Catrine Doverholt

Tel: +301 4283608

Fax: +301 4283610

Email: congress@posidonia-events.com http://www.posidonia-events.com/home.asp

Posidonia is five days of non-stop business and social activity. In 2002 the acclaimed Posidonia Congress will start the week with discussion and debate at the highest level, followed by four days of the exhibition: an international showcase of new ideas, products, services and technology.

The Greek-owned fleet

Greek owners control 155 million tonnes of cargo-carrying capacity, the largest commercial fleet in the hands of any one group of nationals and some 17% of total world tonnage. The Greek-flag element of their huge 3,500-vessel fleet on its currently accounts for over 40% of merchant shipping sailing under European Community flags.

Keeping this huge commercial armada in business requires Greek owners to spend upwards of US$ 4 billion a year just on repairs, drydocking, equipment renewals and general maintenance of their vessels. And the increasing demands of the SIM Code and ever more demanding regulatory standards have seen major investments by fleet managers in cutting-edge navigation and other shipboard technology and in customised software and IT systems both ashore and afloat.

All in all the Greek maritime community represents a huge market for hundreds of suppliers of equipment and services, for dozens of shipbuilders and shiprepairers, and for the many financial, insurance and other institutions. Posidonia 2002 takes place at Piraeus in what is increasingly not just home port but also the heart of Greek shipping, with more and more traditional Greek owners having in recent years chosen to relocate management of their global operations here in preference to other world shipping capitals.