In its recently published Review of Maritime Transport 2015, UNCTAD, the UN’s principal body dealing with trade, investment and development issues, revealed that the Greek-owned merchant fleet remains at the top of global ranking. 

According to the Review, Greece continues to be the largest ship-owning country, followed by Japan, China, Germany and Singapore, and together, the top five ship-owning countries control more than half of the world tonnage. Five of the top 10 ship-owning countries are from Asia, four are from Europe and one is from the Americas”. Greece, still holding top position worldwide with a share of 16, 9%, manages 4.017 vessels of 279.4mn tonnes capacity. 

Moreover, compared with the previous year, Greek ship-owners have increased their shares. According to the Review, in 2014 the global fleet capacity of merchant ships grew by 3.5%, and despite this being the lowest annual growth rate in over a decade, Greece and Japan remain the two largest ship-owning countries by capacity, controlling almost 30% of the world’s tonnage in 2014. 

Critical issues facing today’s maritime community were examined yesterday (11.5) in Athens, at the 15th Navigator Forum, one of the most widely-recognized shipping events since 2001, attracting prominent representatives from the Greek and International Shipping Community.