Shipbuilding expands but needs regulation

Greek shipbuilding is in a phase of ambitious expansion thanks to significant investments, but requires a regulatory framework from Athens and Brussels that will shield it from unfair competition from Asian shipyards, local shipbuilding company chiefs told a conference last week.

Panos Xenokostas, chairman and CEO of Onex Shipyards & Technologies Group that has invested in the Elefsis and Neorio shipyards in western Attica and on Syros, respectively, told the Greener Shipping Summit 2024 that the vision is to turn the shipyards into hubs providing a wider range of services, such as construction of tugs and other special ships, building and maintaining Hellenic Navy vessels, and the construction and operation of floating generators for offshore wind farms."

Xenokostas then reiterated the need for the development of Greek and European legislation and regulatory...