Panos Laskaridis, one of the most high-profile representatives of Greek and European shipping, resigned from the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) on Tuesday after a furore caused over statements he made in a documentary last month.
Trying to get across the point that Greek shipping does not depend on the country's lawmakers or its economy, Laskaridis used language that several of his colleagues and much of the Greek press found insulting towards their home country and its leaders.
