Page 52 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΜΑΙΟΣ 2024

EUROPEAN SHIPPING

❷ You recently mentioned that providers. That may very well have an
one of the major risks for ship- impact on politicians, who will think twice
ping is not effectively commu- before deciding to maintain the state aid
nicating its contribution to the guidelines and the tonnage tax, which are
global economy. In your opin- essential to our activity.
ion, what is causing this loom-
ing risk, and what steps can ❸ What are the main challenges
the shipping industry take to faced by the French shipping
improve its public image? industry?
As President of the ECSA and BIMCO, Similarly to our fellow European ship-
I was faced with the issue of the public owners, our main challenges are, firstly,
image of shipping. financing our decarbonisation targets, as
We are all well aware of our contribution our decarbonisation pace will be deter-
to the world, the economy, and the peo- mined by the financial means available;
ple. But here is the risk: being too sure of therefore, directing ETS funding towards
our value can sometimes make us a little the decarbonisation of shipping is a
arrogant and not keen to explain! We do must. The next challenge is preserving
not understand that the good image we our social model. Social dumping is a
have of ourselves as an industry is not threat that jeopardises the very nature
always shared by the public and, hence, of our industry, as well as its main pres-
politicians. In fact, our once positive or, ervation instrument, i.e., the EU state aid
The EU shipping at worst, neutral image seems to have guidelines, which allow the EU shipping
industry should be deteriorated over the past decade. In a industry to maintain its competitive-
better promoted by our few words, we are currently facing four ness amongst world competitors. Con-
governments different issues. sequently, as I have already mentioned,
as this is essential To begin with, as far as the environment we need to ensure that our EU State Aid
to our sovereignty, is concerned, we used to be seen as more guidelines, and especially the tonnage
independence, and of a solution than a problem. However, tax, will be maintained. It is also imper-
autonomy. Shipping this has changed over the past years, and ative that we adapt our educational sys-
offers incredible career it is partially our fault; we have been drag- tem to new shipping challenges, such as
opportunities, ging our feet a little too much when we new fuels, shipping digitalisation, etc.
fostering high technical should have been more proactive. This Last but not least, there is a lot of com-
competencies, was one of my biggest fights when I was plementarity between French and Greek
as well as an openness at the helm of ECSA and BIMCO. shipping, not only in terms of shipping
to the world that Secondly, in terms of macroeconomics, activities but also on a political level, par-
is quite unique. the volatility of freight rates and their ticularly in Brussels, where we can make
massive increase in the post-COVID years the voice of shipping heard.
have led to us being perceived as respon-
sible for inflation and the increase in the ❹ One of the most significant
cost of goods. The large profits made by challenges shipping companies
some shipping companies certainly have face when adopting and using
not helped! Moreover, as far as politics go, new technologies and fuels is
some European shipowners have, rightly the lack of funding. How can
or wrongly, faced criticism for not always this funding gap be filled? Have
adhering to the European decisions con- you detected any differences in
cerning the war in Ukraine. shipping finance compared to
Finally, in terms of work relations, a previous years?
number of shipowners do not seem to Shipping is clearly a capital-intensive
be treating their crews with the respect activity. Raising funds for our ships has
and consideration they deserve. Social always been a challenge, for some more
dumping is not only unacceptable but than others. Nevertheless, globally, it
also a danger to our image. was never a real issue for the profession.
All these reasons have contributed to Almost everybody could be financed at
the deteriorating image of our industry 90%, 70%, or 50%, with margins from
in the last few years. The public, the con- 0.5% up to 3 % or 4%.
sumers, and the people reading news- This is not true anymore. The quality of
papers see us more as profiteers than the borrower and the ship itself is still

50