The Bahamas Financial Services Board’s (BFSB) participated in Posidonia 2016 in Athens, Greece (June 6 to 10) in collaboration with the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA). Posidonia is the largest gathering of international ship owners in the world, with this year’s attendance at roughly 22,000, and with 1,800 exhibitors from 90 countries represented.
This event provided an opportunity for BFSB and the BMA to strengthen linkages between the maritime and financial services sectors. The BMA continues to demonstrate its commitment to improving and expanding services to shipowners and especially the Greek shipowner community. This is evidenced by the opening of an office in Piraeus, Greece some two years back.
The BMA hosted a luncheon for over 200 shipowners at the Hellenic Yacht Club in Marina Zeas. BFSB’s CEO & Executive Director, Tanya McCartney, brought remarks, encouraging guests to not only think of The Bahamas for what it has to offer the global shipping industry. Promoting the full range of private wealth products and services that the jurisdiction has to offer, CEO McCartney also explained the role of the Bahamas Financial Services Board and outlined investment opportunities in The Bahamas available to the Greek shipowners.
Posidonia takes place every two years and is the essential place for ship owners to conduct serious business being the largest gathering on the shipping calendar. It includes an extended conference, seminars and technical workshops. Posidonia is organised under the auspices of the Greek shipping community; Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy, Municipality of Piraeus, Hellenic Chamber of Shipping and the four major associations representing Greek shipowner interests: Union of Greek Shipowners, Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee, Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association and Association of Passenger Shipping Companies.
*Photo Captions: (from left to right): Christos Papastathopoulos (BMA Greece), Michelle Pindling-Sands (Graham Thompson), George Pateras (Aegeus Shipping S.A. & Former Chairman of Bahamas Shipowners Association), Diana Bertucci (Deltec Bank & Trust), Tanya McCartney (BFSB), George Zarvanos (BMA Greece), Anthony Kikivarakis (BMA Chairman) and Commodore Davy Rolle (BMA London).*
*Photo II: Some of The Bahamas’ representatives at Posidonia (from left to right): Stephen Keenan (BMA London), Carolyn Moree (BMA London), Iain Rodgers (Bahamas Tourist Office, London), Captain Dwain Hutchinson (BMA London), Janelle Sands (BFSB), Christos Papastathopoulos (BMA Greece), Kareem Kikivarakis (Kikivarakis & Co.) and Lemarque Campbell (McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes).*