As thousands of shipping professionals prepare to descend on Athens for Posidonia, one of the maritime industry’s largest and most demanding events, ShipMoney global brand ambassador Karen Martin has offered a candid and experience-driven guide to navigating the week successfully.
For Martin, Posidonia is far more than a traditional exhibition. It is a relentless combination of networking, business meetings, social events and logistics challenges compressed into a single week that pushes even seasoned attendees to their limits.
She paints a familiar picture for anyone who has attended the event before: days spent walking through massive exhibition halls, hours trapped in Athens traffic between receptions and dinners, and packed schedules that leave almost no time to rest.
According to Martin, Posidonia brings together shipowners, operators, managers, financiers, lawyers, technologists and service providers from across the global maritime sector for what she describes as one of the most important weeks in the shipping calendar.
While the business opportunities and relationship-building remain invaluable, she warns that the pace and intensity of the event often catch newcomers off guard.
One of her strongest recommendations is surprisingly simple: avoid wearing brand-new shoes.
After long hours on the exhibition floor followed by evening receptions spread across the city, comfort quickly becomes essential. Martin stresses that footwear can make or break the Posidonia experience, joking that attendees eventually discover every weakness in their shoes after several consecutive days of walking and standing.
She also advises visitors to carefully prioritise their schedules rather than attempting to attend every event. With dozens of receptions, dinners and networking functions happening simultaneously across Athens, she says “fear of missing out” becomes unavoidable.
Instead of trying to be everywhere at once, Martin recommends focusing on the events and meetings that genuinely matter and being fully present during those moments.
Hydration is another recurring theme in her survival guide. Between the Athens heat, long days and evening social events filled with flowing drinks, she reminds attendees that drinking enough water becomes essential to maintaining energy throughout the week.
Martin also highlights several practical essentials many people forget to bring, including extra business cards, clothing with pockets, hand sanitiser, eye drops and blister plasters — items she says become surprisingly important once the week is underway.
Beyond the business side of Posidonia, Martin also pointed to the growing importance of charitable and community-focused initiatives surrounding the exhibition.
Before the official opening of the event, she plans to participate in the Posidonia 5K in support of The Seafarers Charity UK, helping raise awareness and funding for organisations supporting seafarers worldwide.
She noted that while running through Athens may surprise people who know her, supporting maritime charities and the welfare of seafarers remains an important part of the wider shipping community.
Martin concluded by encouraging attendees to enjoy the experience while taking care of themselves during the hectic week ahead.
Splash will provide ongoing coverage and updates from Posidonia throughout the week, alongside practical guides and event information designed to help visitors navigate the exhibition and its extensive social calendar.
