About the Union of Greek Shipowners

First established in 1916, the UGS represents Greek-owned and managed from Greece vessels over 3,000 gt under Greek and other European and third country flags.

The UGS has traditionally supported and fostered policies ensuring a truly competitive business environment, free trade, global rules and regulations and first and foremost safety of life at sea and a sustainable environment.

With headquarters in Piraeus and permanent representatives in Brussels and Washington D.C., the UGS closely follows developments in the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and other global bodies. The UGS is a member of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) and participates in the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Economic and Social Council of Greece (ESC). The UGS is also a member of the Arctic Economic Council (AEC).

The UGS is active in engaging with international and EU institutions and stakeholders. It maintains close working relations with sector-specific industry organisations, such as INTERTANKO, INTERCARGO and with BIMCO,as well as with other national shipowners associations. The UGS also regularly has meetings with the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) and individual classification societies. In addition, the UGS regularly visits the U.S. and meets with the Administration and Congress in order to promote common strategic interests and better understanding of maritime issues of mutual concern.

The UGS also maintains long-standing close relations with the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, the London-based Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee (GSCC) and the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA), raising environmental awareness regarding the protection of the marine environment in Greece and abroad.