The Greek shipping industry needs to consider renewing its shipping fleet with carbon-neutral ships to avoid fines imposed by the EU noted the President of the Hellenic Maritime Chamber, George Pateras, speaking at an event of the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy, at the 85th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF).
Mr Pateras said that the replacement of "green" ships that will not use carbon (zero carbon), but hydrogen will cost 11 billion euros and hence a feasibility study and business plan will need to be developed concerning the construction of the first ship.
The Secretary General of the Aegean and Island Policy, Manolis Koutoulakis, who had the role of coordinator of the discussion, stressed that the business plan will be funded by the Recovery Fund.
Maria Boile, a professor in the Department of Maritime Studies and a member of the Institute for Sustainable Mobility and Transport Networks (IMET) of the National Centre for Research and Technological Development, noted that the study on the reform of the shipping system by IMET could play a major role in decision-making processes of state bodies.