TITLE:
The “Modern Greek Maritime Policy”, 1953-2018: A Critical Review of Its Legal, Economic and Institutional Framework
AUTHORS:
Alexandros M. Goulielmos
KEYWORDS:
Greek Flag Legal Framework, Law 2687/1953 Article 13, Law 27/1975 and 1376/1983, Tonnage Taxation, Ship Approval Registration Action-Terms and Conditions till Early 2018
JOURNAL NAME:
Modern Economy,
Vol.9 No.7,
July
23,
2018
ABSTRACT: We showed analytically the legal framework, which
Greek flag administration established since 01/01/1953 with the long celebrated
law of 2687/1953 for ships greater than 1500 GRT. All Greeks believe that this
institutional framework contributed a lot to the expansion of Greek-flagged
shipping. We also presented the tonnage tax payable by a Greek-flagged ship,
with suggestions to modify it in a more proper manner. We dissolved the myth
that Greek flag is a quasi or a flag-of-convenience, where ships do not pay
taxes. We have stressed a number of facts: 1) the role that a Government plays
vis-à-vis national shipping; 2) the freedom of actions which shipping needs; 3)
the best legal framework required by shipping: in having permanency, being
expandable as time goes by,
protected by country’s constitution, modified to provide more favorable terms
and all these are legislated by 2 ministers outside parliament in a fast way to
be ahead of any shipping crisis like that in 1981-1987. Law 2687 and “the ship registration approval action”
are the products of a long traumatic experience—except in 1946—that Greek-flagged shipping had since 1830 from
various governments—including that of El. Venizelos—and from 2 world wars.