Chapter 3 On Top of World Shipping: Greek Shipping Companies' Organization and Management

The international shipping industry, and especially the bulk sector, has experienced the effects of numerous changes during the last three decades. It is not an exaggeration to state that one of the very few things that remained stable all these years is the leading position of Greek-owned fleet. Greeks own almost 17% of the world tonnage and rank at the top of the world maritime hierarchy. This chapter aims at examining the factors that have contributed to this success focusing on the internal environment of the companies by analyzing their resources and capabilities as well as their structural characteristics which created the conditions for their internal integration and the creation of a sustainable competitive advantage.