Greece is a major maritime nation with its shipping industry, along with tourism, being the most important sectors of the national economy.
For many consecutive years, Greece has been ranked first in the world for the merchant fleet owned by its nationals. According to the annual information paper of the London-based Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee, based on data provided by Lloyd’s Register-Fairplay, in February 2009, Greek interests controlled around 8.2% of the world’s total number of vessels in service and on order, 15.2% of the world fleet deadweight, or 13.2% of the world fleet expressed in gross tons.
Moreover, the average age of the Greek-controlled vessels of 11.9 years in 2009 was one year below the average age of the world fleet which was 12.9 years. The impressive age decrease of the Greek owned fleet (from 20.3 years in 2000) reflects an unprecedented investment in new vessels over the past few years.
The presence of Greek owners is particularly significant in tankers and bulk carriers which carry the majority of the world trade.
The percentage of each type of Greek controlled vessel, in relation to the world fleet of the corresponding type for the years 2008 and 2009 was as follows:
Oil Tankers
Percentage of number of ships 2008: 22.9
Percentage of number of ships, 2009: 22.3
Percentage of total DW 2008: 20.9
Percentage of total DW 2009: 20.4
Chemical & Products Tankers
Percentage of number of ships, 2008: 9.8
Percentage of number of ships, 2009: 9.4
Percentage of total DW 2008: 14.0
Percentage of total DW 2007: 13.3
Liquid Gas Carriers
Percentage of number of ships 2008: 8.9
Percentage of number of ships, 2009: 9.8
Percentage of total DW 2008: 6.6
Percentage of total DW 2009: 6.9
Combination Carriers
Percentage of number of ships 2008: 7.4
Percentage of number of ships, 2009: 5.6
Percentage of total DW 2008: 6.0
Percentage of total DW 2009: 4.6
Ore & Bulk Carriers
Percentage of number of ships 2008: 19.8
Percentage of number of ships, 2009: 18.1
Percentage of total DW 2008: 21.9
Percentage of total DW 2009: 19.1
Container Carriers
Percentage of number of ships 2008: 4.6
Percentage of number of ships, 2009: 4.5
Percentage of total DW 2008: 5.9
Percentage of total DW 2007: 5.7
Other Cargo Ships
Percentage of number of ships 2008: 1.0
Percentage of number of ships, 2009: 1.0
Percentage of total DW 2008: 1.6
Percentage of total DW 2007: 1.9
Passenger Ships
Percentage of number of ships, 2008: 6.5
Percentage of number of ships, 2009: 6.7
Percentage of total GT, 2008: 5.8
Percentage of total GT, 2009: 6