Page 46 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - SEPT 2025

Liner shipping

Shipping needs uniform

regulations for the transition

to the new era

During a recent mission to the United States,
the Naftika Chronika editorial team had the opportunity
to sit down with Joe Kramek, President and CEO
of the World Shipping Council. In this exclusive
interview, Kramek shares his insights on the global
shipping industry's path toward decarbonisation,
discusses the growing concern over containers lost
at sea, and underscores the crucial role of seafarer
education and training in an era of energy and
technological transition.

The United States Trade Represent- due to trade imbalances. So, the cost
ative recently proposed a fee would double for farmers, who grow
on port calls for Chinese-built 40% more than the domestic consump-
vessels and fleets that either tion and heavily rely on the Asian export
include such vessels or have ships market. Our early assessment is that
on order from China. What impact this increase could amount to as much
could this proposal have on liner as $680 per container on both sides,
shipping and the US economy? a cost that will be passed on to every
We support the revitalisation of the US sector of the US economy.
shipbuilding industry. The World Ship- Another major issue is that these fees
ping Council’s members operate 75% on Chinese-built or Chinese-operated
of the vessels enrolled in the US Mari- vessels offer no actual support for US
time Security Programme. Among our shipbuilding. The WSC has been very
members, some are US-based, others clear that the US Administration needs
Joe Kramek, are flying the US flag under the MSP, to shift from its retroactive approach
President and CEO and one is even building ships in the US. to a proactive one. A signal sent
of the World Shipping Council (WSC),
That being said, we strongly oppose on a proactive basis can be much more
talks to Giannis Theodoropoulos the proposal, as it will have catastrophic effective. The US shipbuilding indus-
consequences for the US economy. try needs at least a ten-year outlook,
The proposed fees would translate as it is a capital-intensive business
into a tremendous amount of money, and its workers must be trained.
which, ultimately, shipowners and Additionally, the other part of the pro-
consumers will have to pay. It is also posal, which suggests imposing fees on
important to note that there isn’t foreign-built car carrier vessels based
a separate import and export system. on their capacity will further slow US
For example, exports from the US economic growth and raise automobile
to Asia are currently much cheaper prices for American consumers.

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