Evangelos Marinakis Calls for Urgent Action on “Dark Fleet” Threat at Hong Kong Maritime Week

In a wide-ranging interview with Nicholas Bornozis at the Capital Link Forum during Hong Kong Maritime Week, Greek shipowner Evangelos Marinakis, Chairman and Founder of Capital Maritime & Trading Corp. warned of the growing environmental threat posed by the “dark fleet” of sanctioned vessels operating without insurance or proper maintenance, while outlining his vision for the shipping industry’s role in a more peaceful global landscape.

Speaking to a packed audience that exceeded venue capacity, Marinakis proposed a pragmatic solution to the dark fleet problem that has been plaguing international waters: allowing sanctioned vessels to be scrapped within a three to four-month window.

The Dark Fleet Crisis

“We invest substantial money, time, and effort in maintaining a clean environment and clean seas,” Marinakis emphasized, highlighting the contradiction between the industry’s environmental efforts and the unchecked operation of dangerous vessels. “However, simultaneously, we have nearly 1,500 vessels operating—almost half of which are already sanctioned—navigating around the world without insurance, without properly trained crews, and without maintenance. We’ve witnessed various accidents around the world, including collisions and pollution incidents. I don’t see governments acting quickly enough to stop this enormous environmental risk.”