The Greek government is prompting a new package of measures to stop ‘leakage’ of ships and tonnage and to strengthen the competitiveness of the Greek seafarers, reports Safety4Sea.
Steps to modernise institutional framework
According to the Greek Shipping Ministry, the government is now proceeding with necessary steps to modernise the institutional framework of the Greek shipping industry.
About the new measures
The new measures remove disincentives and the streamlining of procedures regarding the selection of the Greek flag.
They will also be included into the existing stable and constitutionally enshrined institutional framework for the registration of oceangoing ships.
What is the aim?
The aim is to provide more flexibility in crew employment conditions, reflecting international best practices in the foreign crew tax regimes, as well as promote maritime training.
Commenting on the new measures, Shipping and Island Policy Minister, Ioannis Plakiotakis, said that:
Although Greek shipowners maintain the country’s world leadership, today only 16.7% of the Greek-owned tonnage flies the Greek flag. This has adverse consequences for the image of the country, as well as for maritime employment and maritime know-how
New basis for development
He also added that the package sets new bases for the development of Greek shipping, to meet with the modern conditions.
In addition, the measures aspire to give new life to the Greek register, by registering new Greek-owned oceangoing ships, in order to put a hault on a declining course of more than 30 years.
Mr. Plakiotakis said:
We want to send a strong message to Greek shipowners that the Greek government is close to them, listens to their needs and that the blue and white, with the quality features and flexibility it provides through the new measures, is the most reliable choice
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Source: Safety4Sea
