Shipping, along with tourism, are the two sectors where one can currently see growth potential in Cyprus after the severe blow to the island’s financial sector, according to the president of the Cyprus Union of Shipowners George Mouskas.

In an exclusive interview with The Shipping Herald, StarBulk President, CEO & Director, Spyros Capralos discusses the company's competitive advantages and prospects in the current market. He also gives us insight on StarBulk's profitability in the first quarter of 2012, the company's strategy going forward as well as an analysis of the current weak freight market.

"2012 is going to be a big delivery year particularly in dry bulk", BIMCO Chief Shipping Analyst Peter Sand tells The Shipping Herald in an exclusive interview. He also analyzes the impact of rising fuel cost on the shipping market and explains why BIMCO expects annual freight rates to stay at the levels of 2011. 

In an exclusive interview with The Shipping Herald, Safe Bulkers CEO, Chairman of the Board and Director, Polys Hajioannou analyses the company's prospects in the current market as well as it's newbuilding program and access to capital markets at difficult times. He also evaluates the possibility of more Greek companies going public in the near future and gives us his view of Greece's ongoing debt crisis.

In an interview with The Shipping Herald, Managing Director of Maersk Line for Greece, Bulgaria and Cyprus, Mrs. Anne O. Gronbjerg, explains why Maersk “expects annual container demand growth will slow to between 5 and 8 percent in the next few years” and how the industry “must adapt to customers’ changing needs”. She also provides us with insight on tackling the problem of excess capacity as well as the future of container shipping activities in Greece.

International Salvage Union President, Andreas Tsavliris outlines the priorities of his Presidency as well as the challenges of the salvage business, in an exclusive interview with The Shipping Herald. Mr. Tsavliris also speaks of the need to safeguard the environment and gives his views on salvage services in Greece.

In an exclusive interview with The Shipping Herald, Michael N. Tsangaris - Managing Director of Tsangaris Bros LTD. - shares his views on the current state of the shipping market and its prospects. Mr. Tsangaris explains why he expects freight rates to bounce back in the 4Q of 2011 especially for the bigger bulkers, as well as why scrapping is the way forward for owners. He also gives The Shipping Herald an analysis of the Dry Bulk sector newbuilding strategies; and reveals Tsangaris Bros' next moves in the market.

Dr. Erato Kozakou-Marcoulli, Cypriot Minister of Communications and Works, in an exclusive interview with Shipping Herald, outlines the country’s and the E.U. prospects in shipping ahead of taking over the European Presidency in 2012. The Minister also unveils how Cyprus plans to attract investment through its new tonnage tax system and why the country is vastly turning into an international shipping center.

Mr. Spyros Polemis, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping and a distinguished figure in the shipping industry, shares his views on the prospects of the shipping market in an exclusive interview with The Shipping Herald. He predicts the recession will last, at least another three years, and advises ship-owners not to rush in and invest. He makes an interesting proposal in the fight against piracy and also, stresses the importance of re-establishing the Greek Shipping Ministry.

The President of Seychelles, James A. Michel, in an exclusive interview with the Shipping Herald, talks about his determination to eliminate piracy in the Gulf of Aden, the world’s most dangerous shipping lane. He underlines the importance of a global answer against pirate attacks, and calls for the international community to act quickly in order to restore law and order in Somalia. In the last six months, Somali pirates attacked more vessels than ever before, taking higher risks, according to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC).