Newsfront, 1 Απριλίου 2016

Greece’s shortsea shippers are moving forward with their plan to use the funding mechanism available through the European Investment Bank to renew their fleets. The Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners” Association (EENMA), through project Europa Ship Plan, will attempt to avoid market obstacles and raise the financing through the EIB which is open and accessible to all shipowners, particularly in southern Europe. EENMA president Haralambos Simantonis notes the Europa Ship Plan is an initiative of the Greek association and involves renewal of the shortsea fleet, so European vessels can meet the increasing environmental obligations, like those arising from the implementation of the EU directive for new lower sulphur emission limits (0,5%) in the Mediterranean by 2020. According to EENMA, the plan will lead to the construction of «green» ships, which can also use LNG as a fuel.

«The economies of scale and standardisation (modular) of the shipbuilding process is expected to create strategic advantages for the project,» says EENMA. The Europa Ship Plan focuses on creating an appropriate financing mechanism, with favorable conditions, accessible by all shipowners, particularly those based in the South, which in the current circumstances are facing huge problems in finding funds. The Greek owners have already created the SPV Europa Venture Ltd which aims to promote and implement the Europa Ship Plan. Another goal is to better place shipping to address competition from other modes of transport as well as address the bureaucratic procedures that characterise the industry itself. «Shifting freight from Europe’s roads to sea lanes by 2020 is the aim,» said Simantonis. He said: «The creation of a strong maritime cluster in Greece is a necessity and a response to international competition. Let us take advantage of the knowledge and the experience to maintain the primacy of the Greek shipping.