Greece has called on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to adopt realistic measures in its decarbonisation push, stressing that safety must remain the top priority. The appeal was made by maritime affairs minister Vasilis Kikilias during the Capital Link Maritime Leaders Summit at Posidonia 2026 in Athens, reports Denmark's Shipping Telegraph.

Mr. Kikilias told delegates, including IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, that the shipping industry should not be forced into decisions it cannot implement. He stated that Greece supports technological advances and digitalisation but warned that alternative fuels currently account for only 0.5 percent of global demand. He described LNG as the fuel of the present, while the fuel of the future remains uncertain.

The minister also highlighted geopolitical crises affecting global trade, citing the pandemic, the war in Europe, the energy crisis, and conflict in the Middle East. He noted that 80-90 percent of world trade moves by sea, making maritime safety and resilience a strategic necessity for the global economy.

Mr. Kikilias urged political leaders to consult the shipping community before making decisions, emphasizing that industry expertise is vital. He recalled that years of IMO discussions on fuels were upended by the geostrategic crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, which shifted the debate from fuel transition to societal survival.

He appealed for global shipping and trade to be kept out of conflicts, stressing the safety of seafarers as the foremost concern. He added that safeguarding maritime transport is essential for international cooperation and stability.