The Greek Ship-Owners from <i>the Land of the Acropolis</i> to the Yards of <i>the Rising Sun</i>: A Case-Study of Cooperation (1952-2022) and to the Yards of <i>the Land of the Morning Calm</i> (1972-2022)

Abstract

We analyzed the main characteristics of the shipbuilding activity of the Greek ship-owners in the yards of Japan & South Korea since 1952. Greek ship-owners built 4,243 ships worldwide (61% bulk carriers; 39% tanker), in Japan 35%, in S Korea 38% and in China 27% ($50b, 1000 ships) & 146 elsewhere. We showed clearly how , when and why ! Greek ship-owners spent more th an $170b in their new-buildings in 70 years! They own now 4709 ships valued $153b (48% bulk carriers & 31% tankers). A number of findings here, we believe, will be very useful for the present and future shipbuilders. We treated shipbuilding as the neglected industry by shipping economists, as really is, and so we proposed a number of topics for further research. In addition, we designed a new “economy” shipyard. Anyone who studied shipbuilding, finishes his/her work with the question, asked also by Japan: “Why bother to build ships for foreigners, when this is a job for maximum 30 years?” Shipping faces the carbon intensity indicator; the EU ETS and the Green Shipping. Greeks still cry since the time of their birth for adequate and well trained crews, but it seems that the relevant educational establishments are deaf…