As part of Greece’s Presidency of the United Nations Security Council, a high-level event titled “Strengthening Maritime Security through International Cooperation for Global Stability” was held on Tuesday, May 20, at the Security Council headquarters in New York.
The session was chaired by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, with keynote speakers including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, President of the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) Melina Travlos, and Christian Bueger, Professor of International Relations at the University of Copenhagen and researcher at UNIDIR.
In her impactful address, Melina Travlos underscored the critical importance of maritime security, asserting that “maritime security concerns all of us and affects everyone around the world.” She emphasized the vital role of shipping in ensuring global stability and the urgent need to protect the sector from today’s complex and evolving threats.
The Union of Greek Shipowners’ historic participation in this session highlighted and reaffirmed the strong and respected position of Greek shipping on the global stage. Travlos described Greece as a proud maritime nation, noting that Greek shipping, a world leader, accounts for over 20% of the global fleet and more than 61% of Europe’s, placing it at the forefront of industry developments and international policy-shaping efforts.
Travlos noted that the shipping industry, with 110,000 vessels navigating the world’s seas, carries 90% of global trade—equivalent to 12 billion tons of goods annually, including food, medicine, energy, raw materials, and consumer products—essentials for daily life. She also highlighted the role of ships in laying 1.3 million kilometers of submarine cables, which facilitate global communication and power transmission. At the heart of this global system, she said, are the two million seafarers working tirelessly around the clock to keep the world moving.
She described shipping as “the silent, consistent, and unceasing guardian of global prosperity,” operating under all circumstances—even in crises. She cited the Covid-19 pandemic, during which shipping maintained supply chains while much of the world came to a standstill, and noted its active role in humanitarian efforts, with seafarers often participating in rescue missions at sea, “with respect for international law and a strong sense of moral duty.” Travlos called on governments to assume their share of responsibility.
She warned that shipping is increasingly under threat—economically, politically, and operationally—pointing to the risks posed by piracy, geopolitical tensions, organized crime at sea, and the rising danger of cyberattacks.
Travlos gave special emphasis to the sector’s persistent efforts to ensure maritime security—by staying informed, applying best management practices, rigorously complying with international safety standards, and working closely with naval forces in high-risk areas, often implementing self-protection measures.
While acknowledging the industry’s resilience, she stressed that it cannot and should not be expected to shoulder the burden alone. That resilience, she said, must not be taken for granted—it must be safeguarded.
In this context, she called on the international community to commit to global action, urging that:
Maritime security remain a high priority and a permanent item on the UN agenda;
A coherent, integrated, and coordinated governance framework for maritime security be adopted;
The experience and expertise of the shipping industry be fully utilized in addressing both longstanding and emerging threats.
She emphasized that in today’s maritime landscape, the focus must be on crisis prevention, not merely reaction.
Concluding her speech, Melina Travlos invoked the Greek word “synergy”, underscoring the need for unified global efforts to bolster maritime security. Referring to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, she issued a universal call for unity and cooperation, urging the United Nations to uphold its mission and reaffirming the imperative to defend the freedom of navigation as a shared global responsibility and a cornerstone of peace and humanitarianism.
