Propeller Club of Piraeus hosted its business luncheon at the Yacht Club of Greece, featuring General (ret.) Alkiviadis Stefanis as keynote speaker.

General Stefanis, former Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff, former Minister for National Defense, and current Governor of Mount Athos, delivered an insightful address on the pressing issue of geopolitical developments and Greece’s presence on the global stage.

The luncheon began with a welcome by the General Secretary, Christos Timagenis, followed by opening remarks from the President, Costis Frangoulis.

Vice Admiral (ret.) Ioannis Pavlopoulos, Honorary Commander in Chief of the Hellenic Fleet and Honorary Member of the Club, introduced the keynote speaker.

In his address, General Stefanis highlighted the importance of leadership, underlined the strategic role of Greek shipping as a pillar of national strength, and stressed the crucial contribution of the human factor within the Armed Forces.

The event concluded with a highly engaging Q&A session and the induction of General Stefanis as an Honorary Member of the Propeller Club, Port of Piraeus.

The event was supported by: Franman, Navigator Shipping Consultants, Pyli Net and Sekavin.

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An exclusive industry gathering brought together industry leaders and DNV experts for a deep dive into the latest developments in decarbonization, sustainability and improving energy efficiency; topics that are playing a large role in shaping the future of the shipping industry.

The event took place at full house in view of DNV’s Energy Efficiency & Technologies Forum 2025 in Athens.

The forum kicked off with presentations from Jason Stefanatos, Global Decarbonization Director, DNV Maritime, and Lefteris Koukoulopoulos, Regional Decarbonization Specialist, DNV Maritime, who outlined the current state of play in decarbonization, both globally and in Greece, highlighting the crucial role of energy efficiency as a first step towards meeting shipping’s regulatory and commercial targets. Industry perspectives further enriched the discussion, through contributions from George Kriezis, Technical Director at Neptune Lines, and Vasilis Tsarsitalidis, Head of Energy Saving Technologies at ERMA FIRST, who offered their thoughts as shipowners and technology providers on maritime industry’s path ahead.

Jason Stefanatos, Global Decarbonization Director, DNV Maritime: “Interest in decarbonization has been steadily growing over the past years, and today the entire industry is actively working to reduce emissions. While the transition to alternative fuels is underway, it’s essential that we explore and leverage all available technologies. Energy efficiency is already delivering short-term emission reductions and serves as a great enabler for future fuels. Piraeus, as the world’s largest shipowner hub, reflects this momentum - evident in the strong attendance at the forum, which highlights the keen interest Greek shipowners have in energy efficiency and technological innovation.”

Lefteris Koukoulopoulos, Regional Decarbonization Specialist, DNV Maritime added: “At DNV Energy Efficiency & Technologies Forum, with discussions ranging from biofuels and wind assisted propulsion, to machinery upgrades, it became clear that the industry has established a strong foundation of knowledge on energy efficiency, with many solutions already tested in practice. What has changed is the growing importance of verified energy savings to enable the proper evaluation before wider adoption in shipping. The challenge now lies in ensuring that proven solutions deliver real impact across the global fleet.”

In the second part of the forum, DNV specialists and academic partners examined some of the key energy efficiency solutions and strategies, including wind-assisted propulsion, verification of energy savings, biofuels in shipping, machinery measures, and fleet-level approaches. The speakers included: Johanna Tranell, Engineer, Hydrodynamics & Stability, DNV Maritime, Hans Anton Tvete, Business Development Manager, Energy Efficiency, DNV Maritime, Øyvind Sekkesæter, Senior Consultant, Environment Advisory, DNV Maritime, Prof. George Dimopoulos, Associate Professor at NTUA and DNV Maritime Advisor, and George Psaraftis, Senior Consultant Engineer, Maritime Advisory Greece, DNV Maritime.

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The Strategic Alliance of European Cruise Ports Associations reaffirmed its strong collaboration during Seatrade Cruise Europe 2025 in Hamburg, underscoring the importance of sustainable growth, innovation, and resilience across the cruise industry.

The associations came together for the panel session “European Port & Destination Associations: Community Engagement in Port Cities”, moderated by Figen Ayan, Founder of Ayan Consulting and European Commission Expert, where they presented the main findings of their joint survey on the Impact of Cruise Tourism on Destinations.

The panel featured Theodora Riga, President of MedCruise; Simone Maraschi, Chair of Cruise Europe; Kay

Greenway, Director of Cruise Britain; Klaus Bondam, Director of Cruise Baltic; and Monica Berstad, Managing Director of Cruise Norway.

Launched collectively earlier this year, the survey sought to better understand the challenges posed by increasing tourism pressures on infrastructure, the environment, and local communities across Europe. The objective was to gather insights from member ports and destinations, identify best practices, and

advocate for policies that support both the tourism sector and community well-being.

The results provide valuable insights into current trends and priorities:

• • Management and restrictions – Most ports currently have no significant restrictions on cruise arrivals.
• • Sustainability and environmental measures – Destinations are investing in infrastructure, tourist dispersal, and green initiatives such as shore power and environmental fees, though the pace of implementation varies.
• • Collaborative sustainability efforts – Many ports are working closely with cruise lines and local stakeholders to develop sustainable shore excursions and diversify attractions beyond city centres.
• • Investment in greener solutions – Ports are increasingly implementing green measures, reinforcing their commitment to long-term environmental performance.
• • Strong economic contribution – Cruise tourism continues to generate significant revenue for local businesses and create employment in the tourism sector.
• • Cruise tourism, in terms of volume, accounts for only a very small share of the overall tourism handled by most of our members.

In addition to the panel, the Associations held a dedicated meeting during Seatrade Cruise Europe to review their joint initiatives and discuss next steps.

Looking forward, they confirmed their determination to continue working together on key areas such as environmental performance, data sharing, and community engagement — ensuring that Europe’s cruise destinations remain competitive, attractive, and sustainable.

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The value placed on seafarers and their contribution to the global economy was brought into focus at one of the opening seminars at London International Shipping Week.

Titled Maritime Charity Partners Supporting Shipping, Capt Kuba Szymanski, Secretary General at InterManager, who was keynote speaker for the session organised by the Merchant Navy Welfare Board, posed the question: “Why can’t we look after ourselves? We need shipowners to recognise what we are trying to do – we need to be listening to seafarers and asking them direct: what is it you need?

What can we be doing for you?”

He added: “We need from a very early stage to love our seafarers and treat them like heroes. That’s the only way we will attract more young talent to our industry.”

The session gave a spotlight to the four chosen charities for London International Shipping Week 2025; the Merchant Navy Welfare Board (MNWB), International Maritime Rescue Foundation, Sir Thomas Lipton Foundation and Project Connect.

Stuart Rivers, CEO of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board, said: “Today’s event – and this week - is ensuring we put talk into action and we see changes for the future that better the lives of seafarers.”

He added: “As unsung heroes, seafarers have a voice and we need to ensure they are listened to.”

Audience member Irene Notias, Founder and Director of Project Connect, which provides maritime culture awareness through the Adopt-A-Ship Programme directly to schools, said: “We facilitate the stage for presenting heroes at sea.

“We want shipowners to join us by enrolling their vessels in our programme to secure the sustai

nability of seafaring; children are inspired to become seafarers because of the direct contact with the captain – who is their new hero all school year round.”

The seminar was hosted by maritime legend Capt Sir Ian McNaught, Master Mariner and captain of ships for Cunard and Seabourn including the last Captain of the QE2.

Guests for the packed session also had the chance to engage in a panel discussion on seafarer welfare with representatives from the four supported charities. Lola Fadina, Director of Maritime for the Department for Transport, also attended the seminar and delivered a guest speech.

“PROJECT CONNECT was privileged to be attending all the events, as one of the four selected official charities of LISW25 and be among the distinguished speakers of the panels: 'Maritime Charity Partners Supporting Shipping' hosted at Norton Rose Fulbright overlooking the Thames.  The discussion brought together four LISW25 charity partners: International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF), Merchant Navy Welfare Board, Adopt a Ship by PROJECT CONNECT and the Sir Thomas Lipton Foundation to highlight their essential role in supporting seafarers and the wider maritime community. Nikos Marmatsouris spoke on behalf of our NPO at the charities event while Irene Notias spoke at "The impact of geopolitics on sustainable maritime transport".  Many Greek shipping people were present including our Founder Members, Ariston Navigation & Chair of INTERCARGO, John Xylas, Marine Tours' Konstantinos Oikonomou, and IBIA Chairman Konstantinos Capetanakis.  

You can still send a donation for the four charities here.”

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Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the leading voice of the global cruise industry, moves into the next chapter of its “All Aboard Greece” campaign, bringing forward the stories of local communities and the industry’s progress on sustainability, while inviting the public to experience cruising in a new way through The Voyage exhibition, which will be hosted at the Eugenides Foundation in Athens from October through early January.

Following the July launch and the successful release of the first two campaign videos, CLIA now presents two new videos:

• Local Voices – featuring cruise destination officials and local leaders, including mayors and port authority representatives, who share their perspectives on how cruise tourism supports local economies, creates opportunities for small businesses, and connects visitors with Greece’s cultural identity.
• Sustainable Cruising – outlining the industry’s actions to advance sustainability, including investments in cleaner energy, environmental partnerships, and innovations, as well as sustainable tourism management practices at destinations.

Maria Deligianni, Regional Director, Eastern Mediterranean, CLIA, said: “Through this second phase of our campaign, we listen to the story of cruise tourism through the voices of the people who play instrumental roles in ports and local communities, as well as in the industry’s commitment to sustainable cruising. By striving to reduce the environmental footprint at sea and in ports, while also cultivating sustainable tourism development practices ashore, the cruise industry strengthens its long-term future in Greece, built on meaningful partnerships which safeguard the country’s unique cultural and geographical heritage.”

In addition to the new videos, CLIA is proud to announce that its exhibition, The Voyage, will open at the Eugenides Foundation in Athens from October 9 to January 9. The exhibition will take visitors on an immersive journey through the world of cruising, with interactive features and a spotlight on sustainability. Visitors will have access to valuable information on cruise innovation and environmental progress.

Maria Deligianni, Regional Director, Eastern Mediterranean, CLIA, said: “We are pleased to join forces with Eugenides Foundation, to showcase the success story of cruising in Greece.”

Ioannis Golias, Governor, Eugenides Foundation, said: “With great pleasure, we are hosting the exhibition The Voyage at the Eugenides Foundation. Through its interactive approach, the exhibition highlights the role of the cruise sector as a driver of innovation, sustainability, and economic growth in Europe. The Eugenides Foundation has consistently served as a bridge between the public and key issues related to sustainable development, skills enhancement, and understanding the challenges of the modern world. The arrival of this exhibition in Greece for the first time represents yet another valuable opportunity for dialogue and awareness on the future of maritime transport and the cruise industry.”

As part of the All Aboard Greece campaign, CLIA is also launching a Cruise Info Hub for Greece. The info hub will be available through the exhibition and online, providing accessible information on cruise innovation, environmental progress, and destination partnerships.

Learn more and watch the videos at:

• Local Voices: https://youtu.be/ly4J4lj1Zz0
• Sustainable Cruising: https://youtu.be/cf_Sak2iYls

About the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the preeminent cruise trade association, providing a unified voice for the industry and its members as the leading authority of the global cruise community. CLIA represents oceangoing member lines which comprise more than 90% of global cruise passenger capacity, including the world’s most prestigious ocean, river, and specialty cruise lines, as well as a business community of leading ports, destinations, shipyards and maritime product and service providers, and the largest network of travel professionals who specialise in cruise travel. Together with its members and partners, CLIA supports policies and practices that foster safe, secure, healthy and sustainable cruise operations; tourism strategies that maximise the socioeconomic benefits of cruise travel; and technologies and innovations designed to support the industry’s pursuit of net zero emissions by 2050. The organization's global headquarters are in Washington, DC, with regional offices located in North and South America, Europe, and Australasia. 

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 Capital Link is hosting the “15th Annual Capital Link Operational Excellence in Shipping Forum - Best Industry Practices - Building Long Term Value Through Sustainability”, on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at the Divani Caravel Hotel, in Athens, Greece.

The Forum is organized in partnership with ABS & in cooperation with HELMEPA. With a 15-year track record, this Forum stands as the premier event dedicated to showcasing operational excellence in the maritime industry. It explores best practices across all critical areas, including fleet management, technological innovation, crewing, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, as well as safety and security. The Forum brings together a broad spectrum of stakeholders—from shipping companies, charterers, and ship managers to classification societies, flag registries, P&I Clubs, government and non-government bodies, technology and service providers, and the financial & investment community. It serves as a vital platform for fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and sustainable development in the maritime sector. This year's forum will once more feature industry leaders addressing a global audience.

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Direct Travel, Inc., a leader in corporate travel management acquired its long-time strategic partner, ATPI, creating one of the world’s largest travel management companies. Together, the two companies will drive over $6 billion in annual total travel volume and offer leading technologies and unparalleled service across global corporate, leisure, events, and specialized travel sectors.

The acquisition of ATPI, one of the most experienced and long-established international travel and event management companies, serves as a natural progression of the companies’ multi-year collaboration to serve the business travel needs of global corporate clients. The union will also help accelerate the international rollout of Avenir Travel Edition, Direct Travel’s next-generation platform designed to delight business travelers, empower travel managers with real-time intelligence and create new value for travel suppliers.

“ATPI has a commanding presence in the international travel management space and a strong history of collaboration with Direct Travel, making them a perfect fit to strengthen our efforts in delivering exceptional service at scale,” said Christal Bemont, CEO, Direct Travel. “This partnership represents a pivotal moment in reshaping managed travel, allowing us to deliver tailored solutions and a seamless experience for clients across a range of sectors and of all sizes and locations. Together, we will redefine what it means to offer The Perfect Trip on a global scale.”

“ATPI and Direct Travel have long held a shared vision for reimagining how the world connects, underpinning a successful commercial partnership. Bringing our two organizations together will enable us to better serve clients collectively, through the combination of our specialized services, innovative technologies, and highly skilled customer teams,” said Ian Sinderson, CEO, ATPI. “By bolstering our already strong position in travel technology and highly specialized travel support, we will combine to provide a compelling alternative to mega-agencies for global travel throughout our range of extensive geographic markets and business lines.”

Direct Travel values ATPI’s strong fundamentals, proven strengths in corporate travel and its deep expertise across specialty markets such as energy, marine, sports, and mining. Specialized industries bring distinct needs and complex challenges. ATPI has proven its ability to solve them through relentless innovation and the development of proprietary technologies and services that deliver measurable results. As part of this acquisition, Direct Travel intends to build on ATPI’s successful history and further invest in expanding its market reach and impact in these specialized segments.

Jefferies LLC served as exclusive financial advisor and Perkins Coie LLP served as legal counsel to Direct Travel. Baird served as exclusive financial advisor to ATPI.

About ATPI

ATPI is a global leader in travel and event management, renowned for delivering innovative and highly tailored solutions across various industries, including corporate, marine, energy, sports, and group travel as well as event management services. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Manchester, UK, ATPI employs approximately 2,500 people and has an operations network that spans across 100+ locations on six continents. Their robust global footprint, combined with deep local expertise, allows them to meet the unique and complex needs of a diverse clientele.

About Direct Travel, Inc.

Direct Travel is one of the world’s largest travel management companies, focused on delivering exceptional, groundbreaking solutions to every client and traveler. With a long history of proven market expertise, we blend advanced technology, superior service, and expert insights to drive tangible value and meaningful savings—offering solutions across Corporate Travel, Leisure Travel, and Meetings & Events.

Through Avenir, our next-generation platform developed with leading technology partners, we provide the industry’s broadest inventory and a modern, real-time shopping experience that empowers travelers and simplifies program management. What truly sets us apart is the human care behind the technology: an experienced, passionate team dedicated to anticipating needs and delivering exceptional service at every step.

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The visit of the Secretary of the Interior of the United States, Doug Burgum, to the ONEX Shipyards & Technologies in Elefsina, marks the first presence of a minister of the new Trump administration in our country.
This fact highlights the strategic importance of the ONEX Group for the rebirth of the Greek shipbuilding industry and underlines the close cooperation between Greece and the USA in the field of shipyards. The visit confirms that the Group enjoys the trust and support of both governments, which recognize its vision and dynamics.
The President and CEO of ONEX Shipyards & Technologies Group and President of the Hellenic Shipyards Association, Mr. Panos Xenokostas, welcomed the American Minister, who was accompanied by the Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Stavros Papastavrou. Elefsis Shipyards also hosted bilateral meetings of Mr. Burgum with the Minister of Development, Mr. Takis Theodorikakos, and the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Mr. Vassilis Kikilias.

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DryLog supports the Singapore Maritime Foundation in its efforts to nurture local marine talent. As part of this commitment, the company will be sponsoring a final-year student at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), who will be awarded a BEng (Hons) in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering in May 2026. Upon his graduation, the sponsored will join the company’s Technical Department in Singapore, where he will contribute his skills and knowledge to our growing team.

On Friday, 12th September, Mr. Dimitris Seretis, Managing Director of DryLog Services Singapore, had the honor of attending the MaritimeONE Scholarship Ceremony 2025, where he officially presented the selected awardee with his sponsorship.

The company thanked Singapore Maritime Foundation for their tireless efforts in fostering the next generation of maritime professionals.

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EuroDry Ltd. has signed an agreement to sell M/V Eirini P., a 76,466 dwt drybulk vessel, built in 2004, to an unaffiliated third party, for approximately $8.5 million. The vessel is expected to be delivered to its buyers in October 2025.

Aristides Pittas, Chairman and CEO of EuroDry, commented: “We are pleased to announce the agreement to sell M/V Eirini P., one of the three older vessels and the longest-held in our current fleet, for $8.5 million as part of our fleet renewal program. As a result of this sale, we expect to generate a gain of approximately $0.6 million, or about $0.21 per share. The net proceeds will strengthen our balance sheet position and increase our near-term liquidity, providing us with more flexibility to pursue the renewal of our fleet with more modern, fuel efficient and environmentally friendly vessels.”

EuroDry Ltd. was formed on January 8, 2018 to consolidate the drybulk fleet of Euroseas Ltd. into a separate listed public company. EuroDry was spunoff from Euroseas Ltd on May 30, 2018; it trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the ticker EDRY.

EuroDry operates in the dry cargo, drybulk shipping market. EuroDry's operations are managed by Eurobulk Ltd., an ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 certified affiliated ship management company and Eurobulk (Far East) Ltd. Inc., which are responsible for the day-to-day commercial and technical management and operations of the vessels. EuroDry employs its vessels on spot and period charters and under pool agreements. After the sale of M/V Eirini P., the Company will have a fleet of 11 vessels, including 2 Kamsarmax drybulk, 3 Panamax drybulk carriers, 5 Ultramax drybulk carriers, and 1 Supramax drybulk carrier. EuroDry’s 11 drybulk carriers have a total cargo capacity of 766,420 dwt. On a fully delivered basis, the Company’s fleet will increase to 13 drybulk ships with a cargo capacity of about 893,420 dwt.

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