Looking ahead to 2023, we hope that it is not going to be as unpredictable as 2022. New regulatory pressures, geopolitical upheaval and energy insecurity were among the daily headlines in the year which is about to end.

The sustainability goal dovetails as never before, and these uniquely challenging times call for enhanced collaboration. As the clock for the energy transition of maritime sector is ticking, the stronger collaboration of the entire supply chain, from fuel suppliers to port operators, spotlight the next frontier. Partnerships, like the Castor initiative, are of vital importance as they help accelerate the zero-emission shipping taking into account all angles and parties involved in the energy transition challenge.

The sustainability goal dovetails as never before, and these uniquely challenging times call for enhanced collaboration. As the clock for the energy transition of maritime sector is ticking, the stronger collaboration of the entire supply chain, from fuel suppliers to port operators, spotlight the next frontier.

 At the same time, it is without doubt that we must keep proceeding with caution, with safety remaining at the top of the agenda, investing on studies, which will support the industry’s understanding and provide greater clarity about safety and operational challenges and related risks with regards to various transition pathways. The capabilities and resilience of the crew and shore personnel should always remain at the center of our considerations within a strategic management of maritime human resources.

Finally, bridging the long with short term objectives, we must not lose focus on what can be practically implemented today on the world’s existing fleet. Greece, as the home of the largest fleet and the dominant supplier of tramp trade, is perfectly placed to lead on this focus and scale the practical steps that can be taken to further improve the energy efficiency of existing ships.