The essential reason why the Greek registry cannot be further strengthened - the Greek flag - was pointed out during an informal meeting of officials of the Ministry of Shipping and Insular Policy with journalists. There are not enough Greek bridge and engine officers since there must be up to six Greeks on each commercial ship under the Greek flag based on the organisational structure.
The Greek-owned fleet has exceeded 5,000 ships. It is necessary to attract the youth to the sea and to the maritime profession as a solution to the problem. The ministry will focus on improving Maritime Education.
In particular, the following initials were said:
"Up to six Greek sailors must be on board to have Greek-flagged ships." Regarding the fact that the Greek-owned fleet had exceeded 5,000 at a time when 806 ships were registered in the Greek registry and how it affected the image and power of Greek shipping, the executives commented: "The important thing is that the Greek-owned ship is managed by a company that has headquarters in Greece. So, it is managed by Greece as the same company does for its ship under the Greek flag. They work both with the same employees. And the Greek-owned ship pays the same taxes as the one under the Greek flag (tax tonnage).
- So, the connection with Greece of the Greek-owned ship is preserved. The relationship with the Greek economy always existed, whether the ship was under the Greek flag or not.
Regarding the comparison of the situation of the Greek registry today about the past, they said:
"- When 40% of the Greek interests of the fleet were in the Greek registry - in the Greek flag, then it was a different situation since there were no open registries such as those of Liberia, the Marshall Islands, Panama, etc. Then, the choice was almost obvious. Nor was there the option of enlisting crews from a large pool of foreign seamen, such as the Filipinos who came in by the thousands” and added:
"- But to expect the Greek flag to go to the old levels of the 70s and 80s is utopian. It takes a collective effort. It is necessary to upgrade maritime education to attract young people to the naval profession.
- There needs to be more than the Greek sailors we have today to crew the ships of Greek interests. If 100 ships come today to be registered in the Greek registry, there will not be 600 Greek Officers as foreseen by the organic composition of the crew".
And they focused on the solution :
"-A more comprehensive evaluation is needed. Measures were taken to attract ships to the Greek registry-Greek flag, and 50% more applications were made, but when you reach your limit with the Greek officers, you can only do so much.
- 2024 will be the year of Maritime Education; if the youth do not come to the sea to get a 10,000 salary in a perfect and modernised professional environment, then there is no way to strengthen the Greek registry. There is no fiscal problem to prevent the shipowner from bringing his ship into the Greek registry."
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