Past Event

POSIDONIA 2004

June 7-11, 2004
Piraeus, Greece
www.posidonia-events.com

Piraeus had become the heart of world shipping on June 7 when Greece’s Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis cut the ribbon to open Posidonia 2004. The King and Queen of Norway and 10 ministers responsible for shipping and commercial activities gave their support to the kick-off of the five day exhibition in the Piraeus Port Authority Exhibition Centre.

Greece is by far the largest shipowning country in the world and Europe’s most dominant player. It today plays an important role in both the IMO International Maritime Organisation and in European and global shipping issues.

The Crème de la crème of Greek shipping had gathered on Monday morning at the Eugenides Foundation in Piraeus. The Keynote address was delivered by Manolis Kefaloyiannis, Minister of Mercantile Marine, Greece. Next in ranking was Efthymios Mitropoulos, Secretary General of IMO. Forum Chairman was Nicos D. Efthymiou, President of the Union of Greek Shipowners assisted by Forum Moderator Christopher Hayman from Seatrade, London.

After the speech of Ansgar Gabrielsen, Minister for Trade and Industry, Norway - Epaminondas “Pandy” Embiricos took the stage of the Posidonia Maritime Policy Forum to launch a stinging attack on the European Commission and the current Commissioner of Transport and Energy the Spanish Lloyola de Palacio and her “misguided policies”.

Addressing a packed 500-strong audience at the Eugenides Foundation, the chairman of the London based Greek Shipping Co-operation - GSSC launched a straight extemporized tirade, which was greeted afterwards by sustained applause and highly congratulatory remarks from the floor.