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Monitoring and data transmission software is available for installation on floating supply and transport vessels, allowing data from local input-output systems of marine fuel distribution vessels to be sent to Greece's Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) Signal Reception Center. The collection of data is expected to provide a significant boost in combating the smuggling of energy products.

According to a Joint Ministerial Decision, issued by deputy minister of National Economy and Finance Christos Dimas, deputy minister of Development Anna Mani, minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou, minister of Shipping and Island Policy Christos Stylianides, and the governor of AADE Giorgos Pitsilis, three provisions apply: • A Computing Unit with specific security specifications, which must be installed on floating supply and transport vessels • Data Management Software, provided by AADE, which will be embedded in the unit to: Collect input-output data and alerts; Store and transmit the data to the AADE Signal Reception Center, and • Interoperability of the software with the local input-output measurement system.

The obligations of shipowners and operators include the installation, maintenance, and operation of the computing unit; and Data must be sent in the appropriate format to the AADE Signal Reception Center. Obligated entities must ensure the installation of the software on the computing unit of their floating supply and transport vessel by March 31.

Global shipping, in recent years, has been experiencing rapid and profound changes, resulting from the interaction of globalization, geopolitical developments and new technological and environmental requirements. At the heart of this dynamic development, Greek shipping maintains its leading position, overcoming every challenge and continuously strengthening its international influence said Melina Travlou, president-elect of the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS), speaking at the general assembly of the shipowners' association, February 6.

Travlou emphasised "This year has been one of the most demanding and at the same time productive periods for our industry, proving our ability to adapt to new conditions and innovate with full respect for the traditional values of shipping."

The UGS president said: "In recent years, we have been experiencing rapid and fundamental changes. In this rapidly changing global environment, this year was a very demanding, I would say unprecedented, but at the same time productive year for our shipping.

"We withstood every challenge and responded effectively to every new situation, so our shipping industry has remained the leader. And, indeed, against the widespread, unequal, powerful competition, which spreads from East to West, in different forms; from state shipping to large multinational business groups."

Throwing in numbers, Travlou said "Greece with 0.1% of the world's population and 0.2% of global GDP, controls more than 20% of global shipping. We understand, therefore, the value, the gravity of responsibility, the admiration, but also the critical attitude towards the 'phenomenon' called Greek shipping. We are a global case study of excellence, resilience and leadership."

European Shipowners welcome the focus of European Commission's new Competitiveness Compass on competitiveness and open trade as a prerequisite to the continent's security, resilience and growth.

The EC Shipowners Association (ECSA) notes the new Competitiveness Compass makes an explicit reference to the essential role of shipping to the European economy, which builds on the recommendations of the Draghi report on the need to keep European shipping internationally competitive. It also calls for additional measures to de-risk investments needed to swiftly scale up the production of renewable and low-carbon fuels for shipping under a new Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP).

EU shipowners also support the Compass's focus on making processes faster and simpler for European businesses. ECSA welcomes the new simplification approach and the commitment of the Commission to reduce reporting burden by at least 25% for all companies and at least 35% for SMEs, which are the backbone of the European shipping industry.

"The Competitiveness Compass highlights that Europe's security depends more than ever on our ability to innovate, compete and grow. It also lays out a pathway to a competitive industry by closing the innovation gap and by investing in clean tech and clean fuels. The shipping sector is an essential part of our economy's energy transition. We welcome today's explicit recognition of shipping as a key sector to Europe's growth and the commitment to scale up the production of clean fuels for shipping under the upcoming Sustainable Transport Investment Plan," said Sotiris Raptis, ECSA secretary general.

"Shipping is a cornerstone of our continent's security, moving around 76% of the EU's external trade and carrying the energy, food and goods that European citizens need for their daily life. We support today's reference to open trade as a key driver for EU's prosperity, resilience and growth," he added.

The difficulty authorities in the West are having as they try to crack down on the growing shadow fleet, is highlighted in the latest data by Clarksons Research's World Fleet Monitor presenting the flag states that stand out for their extraordinary fleet growth.

San Marino, Guyana, Sierra Leone, Comoro Islands, Guinea Bissau and most notably Guinea are the flag states mentioned in the report. Most impressive is San Marino's growth, a European country nevertheless, whose fleet has grown by 663% over the past 12 months to 1.1m gt.

Guyana in South America has also been making headlines in recent months, its fleet growing by 576% in the past year to 3.3m gt. The fleet also stands out because of its average age, above 40 years old.

In Africa, flag states have mushroomed the most in step with the growth of the shadow fleet – Sierre Leone up by 105%, the Comoro Islands by 104%, Guinea Bissau leaping by 340%, and most extraordinary of all, Guinea's flag state growing by 99,094% over the past 12 months.

Another flag that has been in the news a great deal for its shadow fleet links, Barbados, saw its fleet grow by 177% in the past year, according to Clarksons data. Under pressure, the London-headquartered Barbados ship registry has said that by the end of January it will have asked a total of 46 ships to remove the country's flag because of UK sanctions.

The number of vessels hit by sanctions surpassed 1,000 late last year with data showing more than 800 of these ships do not have confirmed insurance. The average age of sanctioned ships – 21 years – is some eight years older than the global average, adding to growing concern that the sprawling so-called shadow fleet could lead to multiple costly environmental catastrophes.

The grey fleet is still growing by around 10 tankers a month, according to brokers BRS.

Insurer Allianz's 2024 shipping report said "Despite efforts to crack down on these vessels, the number of tankers is actually increasing, and we have seen a number of groundings and collision incidents." In recent weeks the UK has teamed up with several north European neighbors to challenge the insurance coverage of vessels heading from Russia through the Baltic and along the English Channel.

The long-term environmental impact of the Sounion tanker disaster was at the forefront of the critical salvage operation, according to Ambipar Response, the emergency response division of Ambipar Group, which led the spill response and pollution prevention effort for the stricken 164,000dwt tanker in August 2024.

After being struck by multiple missiles from Yemen-based Houthis militants during a routine transit through the Red Sea, the 2006-built Sounion was left stranded and ablaze for 22 days. Crucially, the incident rendered the onboard cargo of more than 150,000 tons of crude oil at risk of spilling into the Red Sea due to the damage that was sustained to the vessel's structure.

While the coordinated international response effort, which involved multiple salvage specialists and regional security forces, including Ambipar Response, Megatugs Salvage & Towage, EODEX, Ambrey, and the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR), focused on securing the vessel and extinguishing the onboard fires, limiting the environmental impact of the vessel and its cargo on the Red Sea was the leading priority for the salvage effort.

"From the first moment of the salvage operation, we needed to ensure the long-term safety of the regional environment whilst controlling the immediate threats. Despite the complexity of the crisis, there was a clear understanding between the various salvage and firefighting parties involved to ensure that the environmental impact of the Sounion did not reach a worst-case scenario," said the Marine Response lead at Ambipar Response, Martin Barnes.

The threat of continued attacks from Houthi rebels risked more than a million barrels of oil spilling into the Red Sea, potentially resulting in an incident that would be four times the size of the infamous Exxon Valdez disaster in 1989.

An incident of this size in the Red Sea risked completely shutting down the key trade route, impacting desalination plants that would cut off water supplies to millions in the region and causing untold damage to the unique ecology of the Red Sea. While operations of this magnitude remain rare, Barnes also noted the Sounion incident underscored the need for salvage companies to continuously invest in preparedness and readiness for complex maritime crisis, while also advocating for greater awareness and education for all potential parties that could be impacted, such as insurance providers, port operators and vessel owners.