Emboldened by the event’s success — the biggest-ever with more than 1,800 participating companies and organisations — they missed no opportunity to celebrate their own staying power in the freight market slump, while lashing out at rivals and regulators.

“Some people were doubting Posidonia would be successful but, once again, Greece proved its resilience,” Nikolas Martinos of Thenamaris said during the awards of the Posidonia Golf Tournament at a seaside Athens club.

Contrary