Recorded at Posidonia 2026 in Greece, this episode of the Seatrade Maritime podcast features correspondent Gary Howard in conversation with Maria Kyratsoudi, business development director, Greece, at ABS.

Together they explore how Greek shipowners are responding to tightening IMO and EU regulations, and why energy efficiency and performance optimisation are taking priority over early bets on alternative fuels.

In this episode:

ABS as “Greece’s trusted class”

• How ABS’s role has evolved from traditional classification to technical and sustainability advisor.
• Expanded engineering, sustainability, and advisory capabilities for Greek clients.

Newbuilding trends in the Greek fleet

• Strong increase in tanker, VLCC/Suezmax, and bulk carrier orders, with LNG and LPG also in the mix.
• How owners are aligning fleet renewal with regulatory and commercial pressures.

Decarbonisation and regulation: IMO + EU

• Why Greek owners are looking at the combined impact of IMO and EU rules rather than single regulations in isolation.
• The drive for energy efficiency upgrades, fuel readiness, and robust compliance documentation.

Efficiency first, fuels later

• Why the immediate focus is on energy efficiency and performance optimisation for both newbuilds and retrofits.
• Making vessels more commercially attractive through measurable real‑world gains.

Digitalisation and data

• How regulatory demands for accurate data are pushing pragmatic adoption of digital tools.
• The link between digitalisation and decarbonisation, and using performance data to support charterers and financiers.