Following the results of the general election on 25 January, Greek shipowners are waiting calmly for the new government led by the left-wing anti-austerity party Syriza to announce its policies on the shipping sector.

The new administration is expected to end the autonomy of the shipping ministry as Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras promised a very small cabinet of 10 ministries, which would mean the merging of several portfolios including that of shipping.

Speaking on behalf of Greek owners, Union of Greek Shipowners president Theodore Veniamis told a shipping forum in Athens on 21 January that he and his colleagues are beyond party politics and would be unwilling to move their operations outside Greece.

Veniamis added that owners would be willing in principle to increase their contribution to the Greek economy on the condition that the legislative framework within which Greek shipping operates remained unchanged.