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14 In June 2006, I went to Athens for a few days to escape from the everyday routine. The "Posidonia" exhibition was held in Athens during that time and I took this opportunity to spend some time visiting this international maritime event. Posidonia is the world's biggest shipping trade exhibition and the only gathering of the entire global shipping community with a strong presence of exhibitors and visitors from all the parts of the world. Posidonia with its continuous growth became the largest commercial event in the shipping calendar, with all the major enterprises in every region represented at the exhibition. The founder country, Greece, has organized this biennial event for the last 35 years proving to the world its long shipping history and its overall contribution to the international shipping industry. Greece, a country of just over 10 million people, has a fleet of about 5,000 vessels, totaling approximately 150,000,000 dwt which represents 20% of the world shipping, worth about US$30 billion. On the European stage, Greek controlled tonnage accounts for 60% of the EU owned fleet, which becomes very significant with over 90% of EU exports carried by sea. NORD NEWS Autumn 2006 P O S I D O N I A 2 0 0 6 Posidonia 2006, the 20th edition in its history, took place from the 5th until the 9th of June at the Hellenikon Exhibition Centre, which is the site of the former Athens Airport. This is the first year that the event was held at this place, however, this was the only way to accommodate all the companies that showed interest in participating at the exhibition. This biennial event is sponsored by the Greek shipping community and participation during this year reached a total of more than 1,600 exhibitors from 78 different countries, including 25 national pavilions and about 16,000 visitors from around the world. Nearly 300 Greek and international journalists were registered for the event representing a full range of the world's shipping specialist media, as well as major global <strong>news</strong> agencies including Reuters, Bloomberg, Dow Jones Newswires, etc. The span of products and services on this year's exhibition covered every aspect of the shipping industry, with shipyards being the strongest participants among the others. Asian shipping giants that exhibited this year included South Korea's top seven builders i.e. Hyundai, Samsung, Daewoo and Hanjin. South Korea's traditional shipbuilding competitors, Japan and the relative newcomer China also increased their participation during Posidonia 2006. China's increased interest was mainly due to the fact that there is an increase in the number of Greek newbuilding orders which have reached a total of more than 100 vessels in Chinese shipyards, as well as to the anticipated opening of this vast country's shipping and shipbuilding industry to foreign direct investment. Besides the shipbuilders, classification societies from Britain, Germany, the U.S., France and
By Demetris Georgiades other maritime nations also showed a strong interest this year. Several equipment and IT suppliers as well as companies offering technical, professional and financial services had their usual participation in the exhibition like in previous years. Apart from the traditional exhibition, Posidonia’s celebrations included a wide range of other events that have become tradition over the years, such as the official regatta, for the “Posidonia cup”, the unofficial but longstanding Posidonia tennis tournament and of course a series of colorful parties that were organized on each of the 5 Posidonia days. The combination of business and pleasure for those who participated in the exhibition offered valuable contacts, renewal of old friendships and conclusion of major deals. A highlight during the Posidonia week was "The Posidonia Maritime Policy Forum" which was attended by leading figures from the Greek and international community, senior government representatives and Posidonia exhibitors and visitors. The Forum addressed strategic issues for both Greek and international shipping, with high-level discussions and debates. The 20th edition of Posidonia, closed in Athens on June 9, 2006, with the global community reaffirming its commitment to the biennial event. The show organizers have already received a flood of early provisional bookings for the next event, which will be held on 2 - 6 June 2008. This strong global interest is an indication of the Posidonia's international appeal and re-affirms the worldwide influence of Greek shipping and the country's dominant position in the global maritime community. Vesak Lanterns on the “NORDSTAR” By Capt. Buddhadasa The crew of “NORDSTAR” celebrated the Vesak festival, on May 13, 2006, by lighting a Vesak Lantern, in shape of a lotus flower, flanked by six other smaller lotus flower lanterns. Vesak is an important day in the Buddhist calendar. It signifies the Birth of Sidhartha Gauthama (what Buddha was called before attaining his Buddha status), Enlightenment and Parinibbana of Buddha. The Vesak festival and Buddhism itself with its associated terminology are novel to our fellow colleagues at sea who are from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. Enlightenment is the attainment of Buddha-hood, which is the realization of Dhamma, the Truth. Samsara is the condition of continuous cycle of birth and death, which is synonymous with suffering. Buddha found cravings as the cause for this ever-revolving circle of birth and death. He realized that cessation of Samsara is achieved, by eliminating completely the root cause, that is cravings. In other words, Buddha had discovered the elements of existence, their causal connection and a method to suppress forever their active efficiency and secure their quiescence. The status thus acquired, by development of insight, through meditation, is called Nibbana, the sainthood. The word Arahant means a saint in the Pali language. The Arahant’s actions are not influenced by cravings and therefore do not produce kamma, the transmitted mental force of the act, the fuel for samsara. As such, for Buddha or an Arahant, when life comes to an end, it is not termed as death but Parinibbana, the culmination of Nibbana, where no re-birth will follow. The lotus flower symbolizes the Enlightenment. The lotus comes out of mud, the sea of samsara with its ills and afflictions, but stays above with no smearing of mud. The lighting of lanterns symbolizes, in a similar way, the teachings of Buddha, which helps the mortals towards ultimate deliverance, from suffering to the blissful state, the Nibbana. NORD NEWS Autumn 2006 15
Page 1 and 2: Autumn 2006 NORD NEWS
Page 3 and 4: Dear Seafarers and Readers! Looking
Page 5 and 6: How it all started company and boug
Page 7 and 8: In April 2006, it was decided by th
Page 9 and 10: The long way from H (Hartlepool) to
Page 11 and 12: ONBOARD OUR SHIPS NORD NEWS Autumn
Page 13: 'RIVER CLASS' PANAMAX BULK CARRIERS
Page 17 and 18: E LIMASSOL “WINE FESTIVAL” The
Page 19 and 20: Reederei “NORD” Klaus E. Oldend

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