Following Financial Times reports regarding potential EU sanctions on Russian LNG, Dynagas, the leading Greek shipping company listed on the US stock exchange—issued a critical statement, initially expressing its sincere wishes for a swift end to the war in Ukraine.

The company warns that a total ban on transshipping Russian LNG to third countries risks becoming a "self-inflicted wound" for European maritime capacity. It argues such measures would strip Europe of strategic Arctic navigation expertise, employment, and global influence, without achieving the intended geopolitical goals or significantly reducing Russian revenues.

Dynagas’s highly specialized "ice-class" LNG carriers operate under long-term charters signed in 2015–2016 with the Yamal LNG project, holding legally binding commitments that extend until 2065. Yamal LNG is an international venture with substantial European involvement; France's TotalEnergies holds a 20% stake, while major European energy firms, including Germany’s SEFE and Spain’s Naturgy, are key off-takers. Since Novatek owns 50.1%, the project's actual contribution to Russian state revenues is highly debatable.

The statement highlights that forcing European operators to abandon long-term contracts will not halt the trade. Instead, it will transfer strategic Arctic assets and expertise to non-Western operators, who will continue transporting LNG at a lower cost. Consequently, the flow will persist, while Europe permanently loses capabilities built over decades. Dynagas urges EU policy makers to adopt a pragmatic approach balancing geopolitical aims with maritime survival, praising the Greek government's alignment with this direction.

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Focusing on issues related to development, employment, and the contribution of Chalkis Shipyards to the local economy the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Vasilis Kikilias visited the site of the shipyards accompanied by the Governor of the Region of Central Greece, Fanis Spanos, and Members of the Hellenic Parliament for Evia, Simos Kedikoglou and Thanasis Zebelis.

During the visit, the Minister toured the shipyard’s facilities, met with employees, and was briefed by the Company’s Management on the shipyard’s operations, infrastructure, and plans for further development. The meeting was attended by representatives of local government, regional stakeholders, as well as representatives of the Company’s management and workforce.

The Management presented the shipyard’s existing capabilities, the investments currently underway, and the prospects for further strengthening shipbuilding and ship repair activities in the region. As part of the presentation, the Minister was also introduced to the shipyard’s new, largest dry dock, which significantly enhances its capacity to service vessels and further strengthens its operational capabilities.

The discussions also focused on issues related to development, employment, and the contribution of Chalkis Shipyards to the local economy, as well as on the prospects for expanding shipbuilding and ship repair activities in the region.

Chalkis Shipyards expressed its sincere appreciation to the Minister and all participants for their visit and the constructive dialogue, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the continued growth of Greece’s shipbuilding and ship repair industry and to serving the needs of the Greek-owned fleet.

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The project will assess whether wind-assisted propulsion can deliver commercially viable efficiency gains for standard product tanker operations.

With the aim to develop a wind-assisted 50,000 dwt Medium Range (MR) tanker, Capital Ship Management Corp., K Shipbuilding and Lloyd's Register (LR) have launched a Joint Development Project (JDP).

While wind-assisted propulsion has gained traction across bulk carrier and specialist vessel segments, its application in the MR tanker market remains largely unexplored.

The project aims to bridge that gap by assessing how Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS) can be integrated into a commercially competitive tanker design, while maintaining operational flexibility and cargo-carrying capability.

The collaboration combines Capital Ship Management's operational expertise, K Shipbuilding's tanker design and construction capability, and LR's technical assurance and regulatory knowledge to address both the engineering and compliance challenges associated with deploying WAPS on a mainstream tanker platform.

The project will include technical studies, design optimisation and regulatory assessments to support future Approval in Principle (AiP) activities and establish a pathway towards commercial deployment.

The signing of the JDP marks the first stage of a broader technical programme that will examine the operational, engineering and regulatory considerations associated with wind-assisted tanker designs, supporting the development of commercially viable solutions for low-emission shipping.

Theo Kourmpelis, Global Business Director for Tankers, Lloyd's Register, said: “Wind-assisted propulsion has already demonstrated its potential to improve vessel efficiency, but wider adoption will depend on proving that the technology can deliver commercial value in mainstream shipping sectors. The MR tanker market is an important test case.

“Shipowners are increasingly seeking solutions that can deliver measurable efficiency improvements while supporting regulatory compliance. By combining practical operational insight with advanced ship design expertise, this project will help evaluate how wind-assisted propulsion can be effectively incorporated into future tanker designs.”

Nikolas Vaporis, Chief Technical Officer, Capital Ship Management Corp., said: "When we took delivery of our six MR newbuildings in 2023, each one carried Wind-Assisted Ready notation, a deliberate design choice that reflected our conviction that wind propulsion would become commercially relevant for this segment. This project is the natural next step on a path we set out on from the start. Our priority now is to move from 'ready' to 'proven': a design that delivers real efficiency and emissions benefits while preserving the operational and cargo flexibility our charterers depend on.”

Tae-Hyun Koh, Chief Technology Officer, K Shipbuilding, said: “As the maritime industry accelerates its efforts towards decarbonisation and sustainable growth, this collaboration will enable K Shipbuilding to further enhance its capabilities in developing next-generation eco-friendly vessel solutions and strengthen our position in the global MR tanker market.”

Image: (l-r) Kwan-Ho Song, CMO of K Shipbuilding; Nikolas Vaporis, Chief Technical Officer, Capital Ship Management Corp; and Joe Borg, Maritime Strategy Director, LR.

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Project Connect has officially released the documented evaluation results for its flagship educational initiative, the Adopt a Ship™ program, for the 2025–2026 school year, by the program’s developer and Educational Consultant, Dr. Adamantia Spanaka: “Based on a robust, multi-layered evaluation framework spanning three (3) consecutive phases (initial, formative, and final) and source triangulation across both students and educators, this year’s findings highlight the program’s undeniable role in shaping future maritime professionals for Greece.”

Backed by the Greek shipowners and maritime service companies, the program serves as a vital bridge, welcoming fresh talent and forging a deep, meaningful connection between young students, Greek shipping, and the rich seamanship heritage of Greece, (“Naftosini”) and which distinguishes this version from the others. It actively fosters industry outreach and demonstrates undeniable, measurable effectiveness in the classroom.

In this program, communication is organized at class-and-ship level, with a small number of students per ship and regular e-mail correspondence throughout the implementation period, anywhere from four to six months.

Project Connect’s main strength is that it systematically evaluates its Adopt a Ship™ program from the beginning to end of the school period. During the initial phase, it collected data from 5,026 students and 158 teachers – during the formative evaluation, from 150 teachers - and during the final evaluation, from 5,240 students, 218 classes, and 171 teachers.

Strategic Outcomes

During the 2025–2026 academic year, the Adopt a Ship™ program achieved exceptional milestones:

- Maritime Education Pathways: 311 Vocational School (EPAL) students successfully entered Merchant Marine Academies (AEN) and Maritime University Departments over this and the last two years.

- Maritime Literacy Surge: The growing impact of Maritime Education on young minds who understand that vessels are the main driver of international trade skyrocketed from 34.6% to 94.9%.

- Career Orientation: A remarkable 47.1% of students (55.7% in primary schools, 30.1% in middle schools) expressed a keen interest in pursuing a career within the maritime sector.

- Dispelling Myths: Misconceptions regarding onboard roles, (such as the accountants work on cargo ships), were virtually eliminated, replaced by accurate recognition of captains (95.7%) and engineers (87.7%).

- Inclusion & Equality: An overwhelming 94.9% of students now voice support for women taking on leadership roles at sea, such as ship captains.

- Direct Career Intent: Exactly 383 students, 33.4% of whom are young girls, stated a definitive, personal intention to follow a maritime career path.

• Technical School Integration: The program successfully reached 5.3% of all vocational high schools across the country (26 schools with nautical orientation), with 91.3% of participating technical educators confirming a strong, genuine enthusiasm among their students.

The Voice of the Educational Community

The pedagogical integrity of the program is best reflected by the teachers themselves, who rated the curriculum’s Study Guide an outstanding 3.8 out of 4. Over 60% of educators (61.3%) dedicate 1 to 2 classroom hours weekly, seamlessly weaving the program into subjects like Language, Geography, English, and Skills Workshops.

Overall, the most significant finding is that students begin to organize their geographic thinking through a maritime lens: first the oceans, then the continents, and subsequently the countries. Thus, Geography emerges as the understanding of the world as a network of seas connecting the continents, precisely the perspective that lies at the very core of the Adopt a Ship™ program.

Adopt a Ship (AaS) Platform

Through the dedicated AaSoP digital platform, students and crews exchanged 1,527 messages across 192 active channels. Notably, nearly 3 in 4 of these connections (71.9%) blossomed into sustained, long-term dialogues consisting of five or more e-mail exchanges per class. This ongoing communication with captains and crew breathes life into textbooks, turning abstract theory into a vibrant, real-world experience.

A Call to Action for the Greek Shipping Community

The data speaks for itself. Adopt a Ship™ by Project Connect, is far more than an educational exercise, it is a proven lifeline connecting our schools directly to the heart of Greek shipping. Project Connect invites the entire Greek maritime community and industry stakeholders to continue to embrace and champion its mission. By doing so, they are directly investing in the sustainability and future of their industry, strengthening and evolving their own workforce with talented, energetic young minds eager to build a life at sea!

If you would like your company to “adopt” a classroom and become part of Project Connect, or to review the Educational Evaluation Report, please contact at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Backed by the Greek shipowners and maritime service companies, the  program serves as a vital bridge, welcoming fresh talent and forging a deep, meaningful connection between young students, Greek shipping, and the rich seamanship heritage, (“Naftosyni”).

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The premier event uniting the Greek maritime industry with the world of golf

Greek Maritime Golf Event, the top golf event for the maritime community, returns for its 12 th year, on September 4-6, 2026, at Costa Navarino, in Messinia. This year, the tournament will be held exclusively at The Dunes Course, the course named “Greece’s Best Golf Course 2025” at the World Golf Awards 2025.

This prestigious golf tournament, aimed exclusively at distinguished executives from the Greek and international maritime industry, will once again bring together senior industry leaders in a unique setting of centuries-old olive groves, with breathtaking views over the Ionian Sea, the historic Bay of Navarino, and the picturesque harbor of Pylos.

The Competition

The golf tournament will take place on Saturday, September 5, at Greece’s first signature golf course, The Dunes Course. Participants will form teams of four and compete in a shotgun scramble, a dynamic and collaborative format of play that suits golfers of every level and keeps the excitement high throughout all 18 holes.

Teams will compete for the top three places in the overall standings, while special awards will also be given to the players with the best performances in the Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin.

On the same day, at The Dunes Course, a golf clinic will also be held for non-participants, giving everyone the chance to discover or develop their golfing skills under the guidance of professional coaches.

Playing golf for a good cause

This year too, Greek Maritime Golf Event stands alongside the “Floga Association of Parents of Children with Cancer”. During the evening of the awards ceremony, on Saturday, September 5, participants will have the opportunity to contribute through a raffle featuring a wealth of prizes. Proceeds will go directly to the “Floga” association, which supports children battling cancer and their families. “Floga”strives to secure the best possible medical, psychological, and social care for these children, shares in their fears and struggles, supports their fight in every way, and seeks a meaningful presence and the ability to help shape medical, psychological, and social care policy for these children.

Greek professional PGA golfer and organizer of the Greek Maritime Golf Event, Mr. Thanos Karantzias, stated: “The continuous growth of the Greek Maritime Golf Event confirms that golf can serve as a powerful connecting link for the maritime community. Our goal is for every event to offer a complete, high-quality experience, strengthening relationships among participants while also showcasing Greece as a premier destination for international sporting and business gatherings. We warmly thank our sponsors and all our partners for their valuable contribution to the success of the institution”.

Platinum Sponsor of the event is IRI / The Marshall Islands Registry.

Silver Sponsor is Marine Tours.

Bronze Sponsors are Arrow and World Carrier Corporation.

Official Supporters are Golden Stone Maritime Ventures SA and Erasmus.

Official Footwear Partner is Hey Dude.

Official Clothing Partner is Napapijri.

Official Suppliers are Budweiser, Teddy’s Speakeasy, Aggelis Meatworks, Athi Rodi, Karnabakos, La Cucina Italiana, Mind the Ad.

Auction Partners are Costa Navarino, Messinian Nest.

Boo Productions is the Audio Visual Partner.

The Greek Maritime Golf Event is organized by Birdie Events and is an initiative of the renowned Greek professional PGA golfer, Thanos Karantzias. The Golf Production is managed by ActiveMedia Group, Sports Marketing Agency of the Year.

More information about the event’s program and additional tournament activities will be announced in the coming weeks.

#GreekMaritimeGolfEvent #CostaNavarino

Information about the Greek Maritime Golf Event:

website: www.greekmaritimegolf.gr

e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

photo credit: © Greek Maritime Golf Event

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Columbia Group CEO, Andreas Hadjipetrou, has set out his priorities for the company’s next chapter, placing responsible growth, stronger collaboration, seafarer support and long-term client trust at the centre of the Group’s strategy.

Commenting on the company’s next phase, the focus is to build on the values that have shaped Columbia’s growth, while responding to a rapidly changing maritime market. “Columbia Group has been built on trust, strong values and long-term relationships,” said Mr Hadjipetrou. “My priority is to protect those foundations while helping the company move forward in a responsible and successful way.

“Shipping is changing quickly. Decarbonisation, technology, regulation and market uncertainty are reshaping what shipowners and operators need from their partners. Our focus must be on reliable service, transparency, strong governance and trusted relationships.”

Mr Hadjipetrou said one of his immediate priorities is to strengthen cooperation and information sharing across Columbia Group’s companies, offices and departments. “Our seafarers are at the heart of our operations. We must continue to improve their working conditions, safety, wellbeing, training, communication and overall support. Our clients also need a partner that understands their needs, communicates clearly and consistently looks for ways to serve them better”.

Looking ahead, Mr Hadjipetrou said Columbia will continue to grow its core shipmanagement activities while developing the wider services of the Group.

“Our growth must be measured, profitable and meaningful. Technology is advancing and decarbonisation is accelerating, but our focus must remain on quality, accountability, trusted partnerships and long-term performance. Strong companies are built by people who feel trusted, supported and proud to contribute.”
Mr Hadjipetrou has spent nearly 30 years with Columbia Group, joining the company in 1996 as an accountant. Since then he has held senior roles across finance, commercial management, technical operations, client relations and international expansion.

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Investing in a modern, efficient, and sustainable fleet, Danaos recently took delivery of the M/V Santorini Express, the newest addition to its fleet. This milestone reflects the company’s continued commitment to strengthening its ability to provide reliable, high-quality services to its customers worldwide.

The company in her statement: “We would like to thank everyone involved in bringing this vessel from concept to delivery, from our shipbuilding partners and project teams to our seafarers and onshore colleagues. Their expertise, dedication, and collaboration made this achievement possible.

We wish M/V Santorini Express and her crew fair winds and safe voyages as she begins her journey across the world’s trade routes”.

The ship has a 8,258 TEU its Scrubber Fitted and fully compliant with IMO Tier III NOx emission standards and EEDI Phase 3 carbon intensity/efficiency requirements.

It was Built as Methanol-Ready and equipped with Alternative Maritime Power (AMP / Shore Power / Cold Ironing) connections.

It was built at New Yangtze Shipbuilding (a subsidiary of Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group, China) and it is the first vessel delivered in Danaos’s order series of 8,000 TEU eco-containerships at the Yangzijiang shipyard.

It forms part of Danaos’s broader fleet modernization program focused on next-generation, highly efficient, low-carbon container tonnage and has entered service under a long-term charter agreement with Hapag-Lloyd.

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The Scholarship Award Ceremony of the Union of Greek Shipowners for the academic year 2026-2027 was held on Thursday, July 9, 2026.

This year, the scholarship program, sending a strong message: "every day, Greek Shipping empowers the new generation" amounts to 365 scholarships. 187 young and 178 young excellent students, from 44 regions of our country, to pursue their postgraduate studies in 11 scientific fields, in 19 countries, in 119 Universities in Greece and abroad, according to their choice.

In the emblematic space of the Hellenic Naval Academy, the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Vassilis Kikilias, and the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Sofia Zacharaki, welcomed the event.

Right afterwards, the protagonists took the floor, the scholars, speaking symbolically, one or more from each scientific field, conveyed their own message about the importance of scholarship, excellence and the pursuit of their dreams. The process began, honorably, by the "Aristos of the Excellent", the scholar who received the scholarship of the Union of Greek Shipowners "Aristeia".

The event culminated with the speech of the President of the Union of Greek Shipowners, Melina Travlos, who, visibly moved by the words of the scholars, called on the audience to applaud all the scholars.

Stressing that "the essential legacy that one generation can leave to the next is the opportunities it will create for it."

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With the aim to strengthen its investment strategy the Nasdaq listed Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. proceeded to the trading of its inaugural €100 million unsecured corporate bond (SHIPB1) on the Fixed Income Securities Segment of Euronext Athens on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. The 5-year bond, maturing in July 2031, features a 4.90% annual coupon. Backed by overwhelming interest from retail investors—who secured 92% of the allocation—the public offering was oversubscribed by 2.03 times, attracting total orders exceeding €202.8 million.

Purpose of the Bond

The net proceeds of approximately €95.6 million will provide Seanergy with vital, non-dilutive fixed-rate capital. The company intends to deploy these funds to finance part of its ambitious fleet expansion, including newbuilding vessel orders and second-hand acquisitions, as well as covering general corporate and working capital needs. Capital product coordination and advisory services were flawlessly executed in collaboration with Euronext Athens and the Hellenic Capital Market Commission.

The financial advisors, underwriters, and coordinators involved AXIA Ventures Group Ltd., Piraeus Bank (Τράπεζα Πειραιώς) S.A., Optima Bank S.A., Securities S.A., Pantelakis Securities S.A. 

Stamatis Tsantanis the Chairman and CEO of Seanergy Maritime, made several key statements regarding the successful listing of the €100 million bond on Euronext Athens and the company’s outlook:

• On the Bond Issuance he expressed his deep satisfaction with the successful transaction, calling it a major milestone for Seanergy in the Greek capital markets. He emphasized that the overwhelming response from the Greek investment community represents a powerful vote of confidence in the company's business model and strategic direction, fueling its continued growth.
• On Financial Performance he shared highly optimistic projections, stating that following an exceptionally strong first quarter, Seanergy is on track to record the best and most historic second quarter in the company's history.
• On the Capesize Market & Global Demand he highlighted the robust fundamentals of the dry bulk sector. He explained that global macroeconomic drivers—such as the rapid expansion of energy-intensive AI data centers, heavy infrastructure investments, and worldwide construction—are driving up demand for raw materials (like iron ore and bauxite) transported by Seanergy's fleet. Furthermore, he noted that a historically low global orderbook (limited supply of new ships) coupled with the upcoming need to phase out older vessels will keep the market highly favorable for years to come

Company Profile

Seanergy Maritime is a prominent, pure-play Capesize shipping giant. The company operates a modern, high-capacity fleet specializing in the dry bulk marine transportation of raw materials like iron ore and coal. Currently managing an operating fleet of 19 vessels (17 Capesize and 2 Newcastlemax) with a total capacity of 3.46 million dwt, Seanergy is aggressively modernizing. Its forward-looking investment program features 7 state-of-the-art vessels under construction (6 Capesize and 1 Newcastlemax), totaling 1.30 million dwt. Scheduled for delivery between 2027 and 2029, this project will elevate Seanergy's total fleet capacity to over 4.4 million dwt, underscoring its long-term growth and commitment to eco-efficiency.

Image:  Stamatis Tsantanis, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp., and members of the Seanergy team rang the bell during a ceremony this morning to celebrate the listing of the company's inaugural €100 million corporate bond on Euronext Athens

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As the first vessel of Neptune Group’s expanded Genesis Project, Neptune Pireas marks the beginning of a new generation of six vessels, reflecting the Group’s continued investment in fleet modernization, lower-emission transport solutions and the future of finished vehicle logistics.

As Melina Travlos, Chair of the Board of Neptune Group, stated: “Neptune Pireas, the first of the six vessels under our expanded Genesis Project, is a tribute to our home, Piraeus. Welcoming her to our historic port, together with the Neptune family, reflects the values that have defined our Group for more than 50 years. It is our people who continue to inspire our journey and remain the driving force behind our Group’s evolution.”

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