Focus on trust, safety, and the ship-to-shore connection

In an increasingly complex maritime environment, success comes down to one thing: how effectively we communicate, coordinate, and work together. At the core of it all lies trust.

Guided by this principle, Tsakos Group hosted the Tsakos Greek Officers Forum 2026 on April 2–3 in Athens, bringing together approximately 150 officers alongside its shore-based teams.

The participation and active involvement of Capt. Panagiotis N. Tsakos and Dr Nikos Tsakos reaffirmed the company’s commitment to its people and to a strong ship-shore connection is driven from the very top.
Discussions focused on safety, operational excellence, compliance, training, and the growing role of new technologies and cybersecurity in shaping modern shipping. The interactive workshops further emphasised practical thinking, experience sharing, and continuous improvement.

The company welcomed Thodoris Vlachos, Head Coach of the Hellenic Men’s National Water Polo Team, who shared powerful insights on Leadership & Team cohesion highlighting the foundations of building high-performance teams, a mindset that strongly reflects the Group’s own culture.

The Forum concluded with the Annual Vessel & Officer Awards, paying tribute to the officers who exemplified outstanding performance, professionalism, and commitment.

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Capital Tankers Corp. took delivery the M/T Ataraktos (156,727 DWT, scrubber-fitted crude oil tanker, HD Hyundai Samho Co., Ltd., S. Korea (“HD Hyundai Samho”) and of the M/T Aristoklis (155,374 DWT, Dual Fuel LNG capable and scrubber-fitted, New Times Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., China (“New Times SB”)). Both vessels are expected to trade in the spot market. The delivery of M/T Ataraktos was financed with cash on hand and a new debt facility of $62.0 million, repayable in 20 equal quarterly instalments of $0.9 million, and a balloon payment of $45.0 million, due together with the last instalment.

The delivery of M/T Aristoklis was financed with a new debt facility of $64.5 million, repayable in 28 equal quarterly instalments of $0.9 million, and a balloon payment of $40.0 million, due together with the last instalment.

Since listing on the Euronext Growth Oslo on March 17, 2026, the company has made significant progress across fleet deliveries, financing and vessel employment. As of April 14, 2026, the fleet consists of nine tankers in the water, including one Very Large Crude Carrier (“VLCC”) vessel, four Suezmax crude oil tankers, two Aframax crude oil tankers and two Long Range 2 (“LR2”) oil product/crude oil tankers.

Capital Tankers expects an additional two crude oil Dual Fuel LNG-capable Aframax tankers to be added to the fleet within the next 10 days.

The company’s fleet will grow to 17 vessels by November 2026, and will include one VLCC, eight Suezmax tankers, four Aframax tankers and four LR2s. An additional seven vessels are expected to be added during 2027 and another six by mid-2028, resulting in a fully delivered fleet of 30 tankers.

The Company has continued to make progress on the financing of its sailing fleet and vessels under construction. On April 7, 2026, the Company entered into a new financing arrangement for each of four Suezmaxes, namely the M/T Alkinoos (155,352 DWT, scrubber-fitted, super-eco vessel, built 2025, New Times Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., China), the M/T Amor, the M/T Aristoklis and the M/T Ayrton (all 155,500 DWT, scrubber-fitted, super-eco tankers, LNG-capable, delivery/expected delivery 2026, New Times SB, China). The expected financing amount is $64.5 million per vessel, repayable in 28 quarterly installments of $0.9 million, and a $40.0 million balloon payment together with the last quarterly instalment. On April 14, 2026, the Company drew $64.5 million for each of the M/T Alkinoos and the M/T Aristoklis.

Including the drawdowns for the financing of M/T Ataraktos and M/T Aristoklis, CAPT has drawn a total of $328.0 million of new debt. In addition, the Company has $129.0 million of secured and undrawn debt financing for our newbuilding program and $235.1 million of financing that is subject to long form documentation.

Mr. Jerry Kalogiratos, Chief Executive Officer of CAPT, commented: “Capital Tankers has hit the ground running as a listed company, in the middle of an extraordinarily volatile market. We are focused on delivering on our business plan, fast-tracking where possible our newbuilding deliveries and securing financing at competitive terms. On the employment front, we have secured a one-year time charter at $100,000 per day for our VLCC in the water, while our remaining fleet of high specification Suezmaxes and Aframaxes trading in the spot market are capturing robust freight rates, supported by strong market fundamentals and short-term geopolitical dislocations. Indicatively, we have booked so far a total of 233 days across our spot fleet since our IPO at an estimated Time Charter Equivalent (“TCE”)4 rate of approximately $175,000 per day on a round voyage basis.”

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Maran Gas Maritime of the Angelicoussis Group is further strengthening its fleet in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) transport sector, with the delivery of two more modern vessels from the Hanwha Ocean shipyards.

DANUTA SIEDZIKÓWNA – INKA and ROTMISTRZ WITOLD PILECKI are the fifth and sixth vessels of a series of thirteen LNG carriers ordered by Angelicoussis Group’s Maran Gas Maritime to Hanwha Ocean, with slated deliveries within April 2026. With a cargo capacity of 174,000 cubic meters, these vessels represent the highest standard in modern LNG carrier design and construction.

Built for maximum efficiency, reliability, and operational flexibility with a minimum emissions footprint, this latest design includes a hull form optimized for a wider range of trading speeds, an efficient ME-GI propulsion plant, shaft generators for onboard power generation, and an Air Lubrication System to further enhance vessels’ performance. This specification has significant advantages over currently competing designs, including lower consumptions and negligible level of methane slip which yield to the lowest environmental footprint among all LNG vessels currently in the market.

These two vessels are delivered as new buildings to Poland’s Orlen under long-term charters. Maran Gas Maritime is proud to be Orlen’s growth partner and is looking forward to delivering best-in-class LNG shipping services in the years to come.

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PROJECT CONNECT will host their complimentary νιάτα ψηλά (Elevated Youth) selfawareness and career readiness seminar entitled “My Shipping Success Story: How Project Connect Helps Me Navigate It” on 29 April 2026 17:00-20:00 at Metropolitan College.

The seminar is designed for shipping and business students, as well as collegeattending children (aged 18–25) of shipping industry professionals, with a central focus on developing growth mindset and agility as essential capabilities for entering and sustaining a long-term successful career in today’s shipping industry.

Bringing together global context, industry perspective, and personal development, the seminar highlights adaptability, critical thinking, growth mindset, and professional readiness in today’s rapidly evolving maritime environment. Featured speakers include Dr. Louise Tumchewicz, Dr. Elias Gourgouris, Dr. Yiannis Kallogerakis, and Irene Notias, each contributing insight from their respective fields to underline the importance of learning  to navigate in uncertainty, which is the only thing that is certain.

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Written by Gregory Spourdalakis, Managing Director of CSM Greece

Shipping companies are being pushed to reassess their cyber resilience after Greece’s National Cybersecurity Authority issued a high-priority advisory urging critical sectors to scan systems for potential threats, says Columbia Shipmanagement (CSM) Greece.

The alert follows recent international incidents that have been linked to Iran-aligned cyber activity, reinforcing concerns that geopolitical tensions are increasingly playing out in the digital domain. While no major breaches have been confirmed in Greece, the move has already triggered precautionary checks across parts of the maritime sector.

Gregory Spourdalakis, Managing Director of CSM Greece, said: “Shipping is far more exposed than it was even a few years ago. The volume of data moving between vessels and shore has increased significantly, and that creates more entry points for potential threats.

“Resilience today is not about a single system or solution. It comes down to how well organisations monitor activity, how quickly information is shared internally, and whether people know how to respond when something doesn’t look right. Crew and shore-based staff are the first line of defence. If awareness is not there, the risk increases, regardless of how advanced the systems are.”

Mark O’Neil, CEO of Columbia Group, added: “Cyber risk is no longer isolated or theoretical. It is evolving alongside geopolitical developments and becoming more relevant to day-to-day operations. For shipping, that means treating cyber resilience in the same way as any other operational risk. It is about preparedness, discipline and consistency.

“The absence of a major incident does not mean the threat is not there. In many cases, activity is happening in the background, testing systems and probing for weaknesses.”

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With growing demand for navigation and integrated bridge solutions, German-based navigation company Anschütz is strengthening its presence in the Eastern Mediterranean to better support shipyards, owners, and operators in Greece and Cyprus. Central to this development is the appointment of Antonios Vatikiotis as Business Development Manager – Eastern Mediterranean, reinforcing the company’s commitment to direct engagement and local accessibility.

At the core of Anschütz’s offering is SYNAPSIS, the company’s advanced integrated navigation system. Designed for demanding commercial operations, SYNAPSIS combines navigation applications, sensors, and data sources into a type‑approved, harmonized system (MSC.252(83) / IEC 61924‑2).

The modern and intuitive human–machine interface provides a clear and consistent situational picture, enabling navigators to make faster, safer, and more informed decisions. By reducing complexity on the bridge and ensuring reliable, high‑quality information, SYNAPSIS improves navigational efficiency, enhances safety, and supports compliance with international standards.

Beyond integrated bridge systems, Anschütz offers a broad and continuously evolving portfolio of high‑performance navigation and bridge solutions, including:

• Gyro compasses (the Standard NX mechanical gyro and maintenance‑free gyros)
• Autopilots designed to optimize fuel consumption and reduce emissions
• Manual steering gear control systems engineered for redundancy and safety
• Solid-state radars for navigation and surveillance tasks
• Radar, ECDIS and conning applications (multifunctional bridge workstations)

More than 20,000 ships worldwide rely on Anschütz navigation technologies, including vessels from over 50 navies. The company supports these fleets through a global network of more than 200 service stations and customer-support hubs in locations such as Singapore, China, Panama, and the United States.

In his new role, Vatikiotis will work closely with regional partners and ship operators to shorten response times, streamline technical support, and strengthen the availability of Anschütz expertise. His focus includes both newbuild opportunities and retrofit programs that help shipowners improve vessel performance, safety, and efficiency.

With its expanded presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, Anschütz ensures that shipyards and operators in Greece and Cyprus benefit from faster access to proven, future‑ready navigation solutions - for both new construction projects and refits.

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Weathernews Inc., a global provider of weather intelligence and voyage optimisation services, has launched an enhanced wave and wind forecasting capability alongside an expanded marine and voyage data offering, integrated into its SeaNavigator platform and now made available externally via API.

The development combines a high-resolution forecasting model with a global dataset of meteorological, oceanographic and voyage data, including vessel routing, speed and fuel consumption, as well as performance insights, enabling shipping companies to integrate environmental and operational insights directly into their systems.

The updated model reduces wave height prediction error by approximately 23% compared to conventional methods, based on analysis of forecast performance up to seven days ahead. This enables earlier identification of developing weather systems and more reliable voyage planning, while improving detection of rapidly intensifying events including severe low-pressure systems and tropical cyclones. Weathernews has also confirmed that its wave height predictions outperform those of major global forecasting centres, including ECMWF and NCEP.

The launch comes as operators face a more complex and less predictable operating environment shaped by fuel cost pressure, environmental regulation, geopolitical disruption and increasingly variable weather patterns. The challenge is no longer only forecasting individual events, but understanding how conditions vary, how severe they are relative to historical benchmarks, and what that means for vessel performance, safety, routing and commercial outcomes.

To address this, Weathernews has expanded access to its dataset, including global wave and wind forecasts, ocean currents, sea surface temperature, sea ice information and voyage data. Covering oceans worldwide and approximately 2,300 ports, it enables data-driven operational management, improved reporting transparency and more detailed performance analysis.

Recent conditions in the North Atlantic, particularly across the Channel and Bay of Biscay, illustrate the scale of this challenge. Weathernews analysis indicates that the most recent winter period was comparable to the severe conditions of 2013-2014, with persistent low-pressure systems creating a sustained bottleneck for vessel movements across key routes. This highlights the need not only for more accurate forecasting, but for better ways to measure and contextualise severity over time.

The forecasting system combines global numerical weather prediction models with satellite observations, ocean and vessel-derived data, applying ensemble techniques that analyse more than 80 scenarios to identify the most reliable outcome. Operating at a spatial resolution of 0.125 degrees (approximately 10-15 km depending on location) and updated 6-hourly or daily depending on the dataset, it provides detailed insight into ocean conditions across global shipping routes, with forecast coverage extending up to 15 days ahead.
Delivered via cloud-based APIs and integrated within SeaNavigator, the data supports voyage management, performance analysis and reporting, including route optimisation, fuel and cost modelling, emissions monitoring and weather-related risk assessment.

Craig West, CEO Europe at Weathernews, said: “Shipping is entering a period where volatility is no longer an exception to be managed around, but a structural part of operations. The issue is not only whether we can forecast weather more accurately, but whether operators have the tools to understand how severe conditions are becoming and what impact this has on voyage performance. Our approach combines improved forecasting, high-quality data and expert interpretation to help shipping companies make better decisions earlier.”

Weathernews is also developing the Accumulated Wave Energy Index (AWE Index), building on its forecasting and data capabilities to quantify the intensity and persistence of wave conditions over time and enable direct comparison between events, periods and regions. Used alongside enhanced forecasting, this provides both earlier warning of disruption and stronger historical context for assessing severity.

As maritime digitalisation accelerates, operators are increasingly integrating weather, voyage and performance data into unified systems, AI-driven processes and autonomous navigation technologies. Weathernews’ enhanced forecasting and data capabilities support this shift, helping operators move from reactive disruption management toward a more proactive approach that anticipates risk and protects performance, with decisions informed by a more complete view of both environmental and vessel conditions.

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The President Melina Travlos and the Members of the BoD of the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) held the monthly Board of Directors meeting of the UGS, the European Union Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas.

Critical maritime issues were discussed related to the competitiveness of European shipping and the security of navigation. The Commissioner presented the recently announced EU Industrial Maritime Strategy and EU Ports Strategy, while particular emphasis was placed on the problems and risks faced by shipping amidst the military operations in the Middle East.

Greek shipping, representing 61% of the total capacity of the EU fleet, constitutes a cornerstone of Europe’s autonomy and of its food and energy security.

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Organized by Newsfront/Naftiliaki under the auspices of Martecma

Once again, the voice of the wider Greek Shipping industry was loud and clear at this year’s Greener Shipping Summit: New Technologies and Education, which was organized by Newsfront/Naftiliaki under the auspices of the Marine Technical Managers Association (Martecma) at the Eugenides Foundation, on March 31. The conference, chaired by Christos Hadjigeorgiou, managing director of Almi Marine Management, was completely successful with hundends of delegates engaging in fruitful discussions. 

According to the presentation by keynote speaker Evangelos Kartimpelis, managing director of Anglo-Eastern Ship Management (Hellas) SA, geopolitical instability and route diversions increase voyage times by 30-50%, directly impacting fuel burn and emissions. At the same time, the IMO Net-Zero Framework (NZF) aims for global implementation around 2027, introducing a goal-based fuel standard and a greenhouse gas pricing mechanism, while compliance with EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime requires strict timelines for reducing GHG intensity. The investment strategy prioritizes immediate “no-regrets” efficiency solutions, such as wind-assist and voyage optimization, paving the way for the future use of green fuels (bio-methanol, e-ammonia). Finally, companies must integrate geopolitical risks into their emissions forecasting and model the cost of compliance with the NZF against potential levy and carbon pricing scenarios.

In the first panel, participants discussed leveraging AI to access historical and technological shipping data, AI-driven performance optimisation, and predictive maintenance, along with the risks of using AI tools without critical thinking or filtering. 

The moderator of the first panel, Fotis Belexis, technical director of Star Bulk Carriers, in his introduction, said that “AI is as good as the data it is built upon and of course the algorithm. 

Without a robust data strategy, having quality data AI cannot deliver a reliable or scalable outcome.” He added that shipping faces a challenge where data is fragmented, inconsistent, or difficult to access immediately. 

To what extent can AI realistically transform historical shipping data into forward-looking decision intelligence and what would it take, in practical terms, to get there, was a question answered by John Kokarakis, technical director, SEEBA Zone, Bureau Veritas, who said the main purpose of AI is the utilization of data in order to make decisions. Adding that it is offering support to the decision and by no means replacing the human element. That is the reason we must ensure that data must be accurate, high quality, and transparent. 

Konstantinos Agas, Training and Development manager, Pantheon Tankers/Alpha Gas/Alpha Bulkers, discussed the role of AI-powered knowledge agents in supporting marine troubleshooting and procedural guidance, and the key challenges in ensuring their reliability and practical adoption onboard and ashore. He said the great advantage of AI tools is that they are excellent in questions that have to do with generic issues, as they combine data from many various sources, but we start to have problems when we look to very specific issues when we may have reliability and data brake issues. 

Nikolaos Ventikos,  professor, Laboratory for Maritime Transport, School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) referring to how training and education evolve to prepare professionals to work effectively with AI, said that educational institutions need to structurally reinform skepticism as we need to challenge AI all the time as we need the human judgement to remain sharp and cognitively prioritized. 

Nicolas Timpelis, IT Projects Support manager, IONIC, responding on how to design systems that encourage validation rather than blind reliance on AI outputs and how to control the use of open/public AI tools versus internal systems, said that “we are trying to build an internal system that is better as it is customized on specific needs and day to day operations and at the end of the day the end-user will have a better result than using a public tool.” 

The second panel, devoted to new technologies and retrofits, carbon capture technologies, alternative fuels for shipping, and shore power, was moderated by Stavros Hatzigrigoris, Advanced Engineering Services at Zodiac Maritime, who pointed out the challenges face shipping.

Evangelos Kartimpelis commented on Carbon Capture and Storage (CSS) technology by stating that although the technology exists, a lack of investments in land infrastructure and transportation delay this technology’s commercial availability. Regarding shore power, Kartimpelis explained the commercial risks associated with the ports’ huge needs in energy to supply all docked vessels.

Sang-Yeob Kim, senior researcher, ship and offshore technology team at Korean Register focused on a presentation that proposes a holistic, data-driven approach to decarbonisation, replacing intuition-based planning with standardized, precision simulations. Through the KR-POWER ecosystem, high-frequency data is analyzed to distinguish technical degradation (engine, hull) from operational variables like weather and trim. This method aims to optimize fuel consumption and ensure measurable compliance with international maritime regulations such as CII and GFI.

Theo Kourmpelis, global tanker segment director of Lloyd’s Register, praised the Greek shipbuilding industry and ship operators’ work in reducing the vessels’ carbon footprint. Moreover, Kourmpelis commented on shore power’s challenging development by highlighting the challenges associated with vessels and cable studies, as well as the problem with the management of boil-off gas engines in dual-fuel containerships.

Nikolaos Michas, key account manager, tanker segment at RINA, explained that green fuels are unavailable because of the huge amounts of renewable energy they require. Michas said that geopolitical events affect energy prices and urged the industry to develop alternative ways to reduce its emissions.

George-Paul Perantzakis, technical manager at Dynacom Tankers Management Ltd, highlighted the unpredictability related to cost for alternative fuels, as they keep rising. Apart from LNG, which is mature technology, Perantzakis argued that biofuels will be considered a more attractive and reliable alternative to conventional fuels for immediate results in the short-run. On the contrary, he stressed that other carbon-free fuels are significantly more expensive and face challenges.

The conference’s third panel, moderated by Helmepa’s head of maritime affairs and stakeholder development, Constantinos Triantafillou, focused on education and the procedural direction is should take to adapt to new requirements and challenges and the new ways of training for maritime professionals. In this challenging landscape, Triantafillou emphasized Helmepa’s study about crew fatigue that stems from new regulations and duties.

George Dimopoulos, associate professor, School of Naval Architecture, Division of Marine Engineering at NTUA, emphasized the need the curriculum to focus more on core theory and methodology to help students decompose and address complex problems. Regarding the wide range of new technologies, he said that the need is to train new engineers to understand methodologies than a specific set of technologies.

Dimitris Fokas, training manager at Angelicoussis Shipping Group, stressed that the Group was one of the first having dual-fuel engines and, thus, developed its training program to adapt to these. Regarding the role of AI, he explained that it is difficult to say how it will transform training. However, he expressed his optimism and trust in Greek shipping’s adaptability to difficult environments.

Thodoris Galanis, group IT manager at Latsco Marine Management Inc, emphasized that digital literacy and competence is extremely important for maritime operations and part of safety and efficiency. Regarding AI, Galanis stressed that it will “democratize” expertise. Lastly, he argued that cyber-security is essential to shipping, as it is linked to operational efficiency.

Charalambos Yakinthos, director, School of Engineers at Merchant Marine Academy of Macedonia, stressed that Merchant Marine Academies (AEN) should be evolved into innovation hubs in where research is conducted. He further explained that Academies should implement innovation modules and use Virtual Reality (VR) to lead hands-on experience. Lastly, regarding environmental requirements, Yakinthos said that Greek Academies are training environmental leaders and not just engineers.

In the fourth panel, participants discussed in depth Policy, Regulation, and Market Developments, EU ETS and FuelEU – lessons learned and market implications, as well as what to expect from the IMO regarding NZF. 

The moderator Haris Giantzikis, Technical Manager, Arcadia Shipmanagement, opened the discussion saying he is not optimistic about a clear outcome concerning NZF at IMO later in October this year, especially with a war continuing in the Middle East. 

Lefteris Koukoulopoulos, Regional Decarbonisation Specialist, DNV, speaking on the same hot issue presented the positive position that shipping (owners and organizations) wants a working framework on the issue so every company decides with a clear strategy for the future, because “ a no decision is worse than any global framework” and he presented the various proposals presented for a new NZF. 

Dimitris Mytilinis, Senior Performance Engineer, Latsco Marine Management, said that “from the operator's perspective we need clarity and stability over time” as companies need to know and understand the long-term direction presented by the regulators. He also discussed the need for various fuel availability on all ports with applied infrastructure at the terminals. He also referred to the uncertainty of smaller companies about fleet renewal as they are not sure of the specific type of alternative fuel they should invest in. 
George Nikolaidis, Engineer II, Regulatory Affairs, ABS, reported on the mid-term measures currently stalled at the IMO and made an extended reference about what this means for the future of the CII framework. He also spoke about concerns on the safety aspect and the cost premium of new alternative fuels and that in this situation onboard Carbon Capture and Storage is viewed as a complementary pathway to decarbonise shipping. 
Alexander Prokopakis, executive director, IBIA, called the current proposal in the IMO ‘dead’ and called it not a failure of IMO but “a failure of governments”. He added that for the fuel supply chain to make alternative fuels available at scale while keeping costs realistic, needs clarity, timing and incentives.

The busy day was concluded with a lunch that gave wide opportunities to delegates for networking. The conference was met by success, as over 400 delegates, representing 262 companies from 11 countries took part, something that reflects the relevance and success of the program. The engaging discussions, often leading to lively and insightful exchanges between speakers and delegates both during and beyond the sessions, significantly enhanced the overall experience.

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MED TUGS (Vernicos Scafi, Spanopoulos, Lyboussakis), the premier Greek towage and salvage consortium, proceeded to a significant €21 million investment for the construction of two state-of-the-art tugboats at the world-renowned Sanmar Shipyards.

This strategic move reinforces the market position of the MED TUGS (Vernicos Scafi, Spanopoulos, Lyboussakis) consortium. With this latest order, the combined fleet reaches a formidable 43 high-specification salvage and terminal tugs, of which 7 are modern newbuildings.

Unrivaled Infrastructure & Strategic Vision 2029

MED TUGS (Vernicos Scafi, Spanopoulos, Lybousakis) currently provides essential ship-handling and safety services across almost all ports in Greece and serves all domestic refineries. This expansion is a key step toward the consortium’s long-term goal: to have 10 high-spec newbuildings on the water by 2029, featuring similar or even superior specifications to the current order.

Vessel Specifications & Delivery Timeline

The contract with Sanmar Shipyards, a global leader in high-quality specialized vessel construction, includes two advanced designs from the naval architects at Robert Allan Ltd.:

• • RAstar 2900SX (Bigaçay Series): Featuring an 83-tonne bollard pull, this high-performance ASD tug is designed for prompt delivery in September 2026.
• • Kocaçay 3200SX Series: Boasting a powerful 90-tonne bollard pull, this vessel is engineered for the most demanding terminal and escort operations, with deliver scheduled for September 2027.

"This €21 million investment reflects our commitment to the safety and efficiency of Greek maritime infrastructure," stated the MED TUGS (Vernicos Scafi, Spanopoulos, Lyboussakis) Board. "By serving every refinery and nearly every port in the country, we have a responsibility to lead. Our path to 10 newbuildings by 2029 ensures that we remain the most reliable and technologically advanced partner for the world’s largest vessels and energy terminals."

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