ALTHOUGH the centre of gravity of shipping is said to be moving to Asia, the industry’s focal point remains in Greece. Therefore, it came as a surprise that that nation’s newly elected centre-left government announced plans to abolish a standalone Ministry of Merchant Marine in favour of welding a Shipping Ministry into a new Ministry of National Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping. This superministry was forged by decree of Prime Minister George Papandreou, the winner in recent elections. The changes are part of Mr Papandreou’s efforts to trim government ministries.