The Maritime Services of Gibraltar have concluded their participation in Posidonia 2026, held in Athens, with a positive assessment of the activities carried out during one of the main events on the international shipping calendar. The Gibraltarian delegation held a schedule of meetings during the fair with shipowners, operators, service providers, and institutional representatives, aimed at consolidating existing relationships and establishing new contacts in the maritime sector.
The delegation was led by the Minister responsible for the Port and Maritime Administration, Gemma Arias-Vásquez, and included the participation of the Port Captain, John Ghio, along with representatives from the Maritime Administration of Gibraltar and agents linked to the maritime, bunkering, shipping, and legal sectors.
Gibraltar had its own stand from the Maritime Services of Gibraltar, which served as a meeting point for business meetings, institutional contacts, and presentations of services associated with the port and the Gibraltarian maritime jurisdiction. According to the delegation, the space recorded continuous activity throughout the week and allowed professionals and entities linked to maritime transport, bunkering, port management, and auxiliary services to be attended to.
The presence at Posidonia brought together the Port Authority of Gibraltar, the Maritime Administration of Gibraltar, and representatives from the private sector in one space. The delegation conveyed a coordinated image of the Gibraltarian maritime sector, focusing on its port activity, maritime registry, specialized services, and fuel supply to vessels.
One of the issues discussed during the fair was the role of ports in the energy transition. The Port Captain, John Ghio, participated in the naval energy panel 'Putting Ports on the Decarbonisation Map,' focused on incorporating ports into maritime transport decarbonization strategies. His intervention addressed the role of port facilities in this process and practical ways to adapt port activity to the new environmental and energy requirements of the sector.
In parallel, the Gibraltar stand received visits from professionals and representatives of international companies. The delegation used this space to hold meetings, address inquiries, and present the capabilities of the Port of Gibraltar, with special attention to its strategic location in the Strait and its role as one of the main bunkering points in the Mediterranean.
The stand also received a visit from the British Ambassador to Greece, Matthew Lodge, who was welcomed by the Port Captain, John Ghio, and by the Business Development Director of the Maritime Services of Gibraltar, Aaron López. The institutional agenda was completed with the attendance of Arias-Vásquez, Ghio, and López at a reception at the Greek Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy, organized by Minister Vasilis Kikilias, and with Ghio's participation in a reception at the British Embassy in Athens.
Before the return of the delegation, Minister Gemma Arias-Vásquez presided over the Gibraltar Reception, a meeting with sector partners, sponsors, and contacts from the international maritime community. The event allowed for the establishment of new professional contacts and the continuation of meetings held during the fair.
The Port Captain has noted that Posidonia has once again become a forum of interest for Gibraltar due to the possibility of establishing direct contact with the global shipping community. Ghio indicated that the stand of the Maritime Services of Gibraltar recorded high activity and that the feedback received from sector partners was favorable.
Regarding his participation in the decarbonization panel, Ghio pointed out that ports have a relevant role in the energy transition of maritime transport and that Gibraltar remains willing to participate in this debate from a practical, responsible perspective, tailored to the commercial reality of the sector.
For her part, Gemma Arias-Vásquez pointed out that the fair has allowed for the international market to understand the role of the maritime sector within the Gibraltarian economy. The Minister indicated that Posidonia provided an opportunity to present the port, maritime services, and local operators to a wide representation of the global shipping industry.
Arias-Vásquez also valued the composition of the Gibraltarian delegation and the collaboration between the Maritime Services of Gibraltar and the participating private partners. She also thanked the work of the team from the Port Authority of Gibraltar in organizing the visit and the participation of the sponsors who contributed to the stand of the Rock in Athens.