Greek Shipowners Among 100 Most Influential Figures in Global Shipping

Greek shipowners once again ranked high in the “One Hundred People” list of Lloyd’s List journal, which features the most influential players in the global shipping industry for 2024. There are fifteen representatives of the Greek shipping community included on the list.

The awards were presented on Friday, December 6th during a glitzy ceremony at a central Athens hotel. Hundreds of prominent members of the Greek shipping community attended the event. This year marks 21 years of celebrating the best of the best in the global shipping industry.

A woman tops the list of the 14 most influential Greeks, according to Lloyd’s List

Among the Greek shipowners featured on the list are six women, with Maria Angeliccousis, head of Angeliccousis Group, topping the list of the fifteen most powerful Greek shipping magnates. Angeliccousis ranks 12th on Lloyd’s List “One Hundred People” list, as was also the case in 2023. Lloyd’s List noted that Angeliccousis continues to expand and gradually mold the eponymous family shipping business for a sustainable future. The group has assets of about $16.8 billion, with just over $14 billion representing its fleet’s book value.

Evangelos Marinakis also stands out, ranking 16th according to Lloyd’s List, up from 22nd in the 2023 rankings. The Greek shipping magnate also exerts influence beyond the shipping sector. He is influential in both football and Greek media and is the owner of Greek football club Olympiacos FC.

Other Greek shipowners on the list are George Prokopiou, featured 20th on the list, having dropped one place from 2023, Angeliki Fragou in 24th place (three places lower than 2023), and Melina Travlos, who is 26th down from 25th in 2023.

Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), tops the list of British Lloyd’s List 100 most influential figures in the global shipping industry.

Greek flag remains in top 10 of shipping industry

According to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, the Greek-flagged fleet has remained in the top ten countries with the largest fleet of ships under their flag and is currently placed ninth. However, Greece, which is home to 600 shipping companies that control over 5,500 ships in terms of registry, has lost 4.2 percent of its capacity in terms of GT, compared to November 2023.

Meanwhile, the Greek fleet has also lost its lead among European flags, with Malta now topping the list. Greece currently possesses the second largest registry in Europe.

Globally, Lloyd’s List Intelligence notes that, in terms of ships of 500 GT (gross tonnage) and above, Liberia remained at the very top while Panama is second, and the Marshall Islands remain in third place. The above three registries possess 55 percent of the tonnage available in the top 10 registries in terms of gross tonnage.

Greece’s government has launched a new scheme that aims to upgrade the Greek registry digitally and give the industry a further boost. Greek shipping companies have long said that their industry faces significant challenges such as bureaucracy, lack of Greek seamen, and digitalization.