Wallem Group, a leading global maritime partner, has welcomed two dual fuel vessels, Angleviken and Askviken, into management in the last few months. The two LR2 tankers, delivered by Guangzhou Shipyard International, demonstrate Wallem’s commitment to building its expertise in managing and operating the vessels of the future and being a partner to our clients who drive decarbonisation in the maritime industry. Wallem is also preparing to take delivery of multiple new build DF PCTC vessels in the near future.
Ioannis Stefanou, Managing Director Ship Management, Wallem Group said: ‘Since its foundation 120 years ago, Wallem has been at the forefront of maritime global services with a keen eye to adopt industry change. In the 21^st century decarbonisation leads the sector’s agenda, and Wallem’s key focus is to develop and build our expertise both onboard and ashore in new technologies and alternative fuel systems.’
Mr. Stefanou continues, ‘Despite technological advances, we still believe the Future is Human. These dual fuel vessels have brought exciting opportunities for our crew to expand their expertise. They provide a platform to train experienced crews of various ship types on dual fuel engine system requirements. Wallem is ready to manage any type of vessel equipped with dual fuel engines for our clients.’  
About Wallem
Wallem Group is a leading provider of technology driven maritime solutions, offering services supporting the complete lifecycle of a vessel from newbuilding supervision to end-of-life recycling guidance. Wallem’s extensive portfolio includes asset management, crewing, training, ship management, safety and compliance management and agency services.
As one of the largest and most experienced solutions providers globally, Wallem offers world-class support to shipowners by bringing its customer-centric and transparent approach to all aspects of fleet operation. Wallem combines technology and forward-thinking to deliver on safety, technical, and commercial performance without compromise. Wallem believes in collaboration to foster innovation in meeting future needs.
Wallem operates globally with a shore-based team of 700 people and 7,000 highly qualified seafarers, serving nearly all vessel segments.

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The Forum of Alternative Fuel and Propulsion Technology was organized by Headway Technology Group (Qingdao) Co., Ltd. on 27^th October, in Yantai, China. With the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry (CANSI) and the China Shipowners' Association (CSA) as hosts, many Distinguished representatives from government agencies, industrial associations, ship owners, shipyards and naval design institutes gathered at this event to engage in in-depth discussions on the latest advancements and prospects of alternative fuels and propulsion technologies.
During the forum, Headway Technology Group showcased their groundbreaking Methanol Fuel Supply System, which was in live operation. The event garnered support from notable organizations, including the Shandong Provincial Association of the Shipbuilding Industry (SPASI), Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI) and leading universities.
Headway Technology Group took center stage at the forum by unveiling two cutting-edge decarbonization solutions: the Methanol Fuel Supply System (LFSS) and the Carbon Capture, Storage and Utilization System (CCSU). Additionally, they formalized a Cooperation Agreement on Alternative Fuel Conversion with PaxOcean Engineering Zhoushan Co., Ltd and SDARI. Under this agreement, the three companies will collaborate to provide comprehensive turnkey solutions, encompassing retrofitting, installation, commissioning and technical/after-sales support for alternative fuel sources like methanol and ammonia. This partnership is anticipated to yield mutual benefits for the entire supply chain and, most importantly, for the customer.
Naifen Tan, Deputy Secretary General of CANSI, emphasized that the global economic slowdown has introduced increased uncertainties and challenges. Furthermore, with the finalization of the “2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships”, the shipping industry has embarked on a faster journey toward decarbonization. In this context, the shipbuilding industry finds itself at a crossroads, brimming with both opportunities and challenges. There is an urgent need for a stronger commitment to digitalization and green technologies, fostering the growth of intelligent manufacturing and integrated solutions. These steps are essential in empowering a bottom-up approach to conversion. Ms. Tan commended the forum for providing a valuable platform for the industry to explore possibilities for steering the shipping sector toward a greener future.
The other two specially invited guests also address speeches. Ms. Ying Xin from Department of industry and information Technology, and Mr. Hailong, Chen from a leading university, underscored that venturing down the path of industrialization is a critical objective for achieving industrialization with distinct Chinese characteristics. They emphasized that promoting innovation serves as the cornerstone of industrialization, and sustainability should be ingrained as an integral element of this process. It was mentioned in the recent provincial ship and offshore supply chain conference, the paramount importance and concentrating efforts should be put in key areas and prioritizing major tasks aimed at fostering the exclusive, intelligent and sustainable development of the shipping industry. Universities should fully take the advantages of talents and scientific & technological innovation, cooperate with suppliers in the industry, seize the research and development opportunities of key technologies for green ships, and jointly promote the update and iteration of new energy power technologies for ships.
During the forum, Yao Yu, the Director of the Mechanical and Electrical Department at the Development Institute of Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co., Ltd., delivered a keynote speech on "The Application of Methanol Propulsion Systems for Large Container Carriers" He shared Jiangnan's extensive expertise in the design and construction of large, low-carbon container carriers.
Dr. Enzhe Song, an expert in marine power and propulsion, representing leading Chinese universities, gave a speech titled "Development Path of Marine Propulsion" This presentation provided a detailed introduction to the strategic requirements and potential development pathways for alternative marine fuels. Dr. Song's speech also outlined a practical approach for Chinese shipping companies to achieve green and sustainable development tailored to their specific needs.
Kechao Lu, the Director of the Strategy & Development Department at Headway, delivered a speech titled "Headway's Low Carbon Solutions based on the Strategy for Reduction of GHG Emissions". This presentation fully unveiled Headway's comprehensive solutions for low-carbon shipping, along with sharing data analytics from bench tests of the OceanGuard® LFSS.
Zhuo Zhang, Director of the Innovation Center at SDARI, introduced SDARI's brand-new Dolphin 210,000 and 85,000 DWT methanol dual-fuel bulk carriers. He also shared insights on optimized tanker and PCTC designs.
Hongxing Li, Promotion Manager at MAN Energy Solutions, delivered a speech titled "Introduction to Two-Stroke Methanol Marine Engines and Auxiliary Systems". This presentation provided technical specifications for MAN's two-stroke methanol engines, highlighted major components, and discussed modular retrofitting.
In the afternoon, the speakers and audience had the opportunity to visit Headway's alternative fuel test center and observed the OceanGuard® Methanol Fuel Supply System in action. The test center was purposefully designed to serve as an intelligent platform, facilitating technical research, commercialization, product testing and talent development. This field visit provided an in-depth understanding of the components and operational aspects of the OceanGuard® LFSS, including the Methanol Supply Unit, Bunkering Unit, Service Tank and Control Unit.
The forum, as a whole, serves as a pivotal platform for the alternative fuel value chain to foster communication and collaboration. It is poised to drive the industry toward a greener future, characterized by mutual benefits. This collective effort will propel the industry along a steady and sustainable path toward a more environmentally conscious course.

This Forum consists of 2 parts:
1, meeting in the morning,  it is organized by Headway, with 2 associations as hosts-- the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry (CANSI) and the China Shipowners' Association (CSA)
2. visiting LFSS operation in test center of Headway.  Audience from the forum visited test center, witnessed how LFSS supplied stable methanol to an running engine.

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Lloyd’s Register (LR) has been awarded the contract to class two methanol-ready Commissioning Service Operations Vessels (CSOVs) being built by VARD, one of the major global designers and shipbuilders of specialised vessels, for the UK’s leading offshore infrastructure support vessel operator, North Star.
The new tonnage will increase North Star’s offshore wind capabilities as it progresses its ambition to add 40 hybrid-powered SOVs to its fleet by 2040. The introduction of the two CSOVs will expand North Star’s capabilities to support commissioning and maintenance work εssential to ensuring offshore wind farms can operate. Alongside their use as a logistics hub and warehouse, these ships also provide in-field technicians with high-comfort accommodation.
The CSOVs will be built to VARD’s unique 4 22 design and feature a new methanol-ready hybrid-propulsion system coupled with a hull design optimised for low fuel consumption and resistance. The vessel’s hulls will be built at Vard Braila, Romania before being towed to Vard Langsten in Norway for outfitting with an expected delivery date of Spring 2025. 
The project builds further on LR’s work in Norway for the delivery of alternative fuelled vessels. In 2022 LR awarded Approval in Principle to Norwegian ship owner Egil Ulvan Rederi for its With Orca zero emissions bulk carrier - which won the Motorship Award in 2022 - and the Torghatten Nord project to provide a hydrogen ferry for Norway’s Vestfjorden route, connecting Bodø, Røst, Værøy and Moskenes.
Michael North, Lloyd’s Register Commercial Manager for Norway and Iceland, said: “LR is pleased to have been awarded the contract to conduct the design appraisal and survey of Vard’s two CSOVs for North Star. The build, design and delivery of these two methanol-ready vessels will represent a positive forward step for the maritime energy transition and LR is looking forward to providing continued support to Vard and the Norwegian shipbuilding industry.” 
Thomas Brathaug, Project Manager, VARD, said: “Based on the great cooperation prior to the ship building contract, we are confident that Lloyd’s Register will be a good partner through the completion of the engineering and construction of these vessels with several innovative solutions.”
James Bradford, North Star’s Chief Technology Officer, said: “Our business enjoys a longstanding relationship with Lloyd’s Register, with many of our existing fleet aligned with its classifications, benchmarking the high standard our ships are built to. Ensuring that we drive down emissions is critical to our long-term goals. Having these assets delivered methanol ready will allow us to decarbonise our service offering to our client base and in particular our European clients who will face carbon taxation challenges in the near future.”
About Lloyd’s Register: Trusted maritime advisers, partnering with clients to drive performance across the ocean economy.
Lloyd’s Register (LR) is a global professional services group specialising in marine engineering and technology. Created more than 260 years ago as the world’s first marine classification society, to improve and set standards for the safety of ships.
Today we are a leading provider of classification and compliance services to the marine and offshore industries, helping our clients design, construct and operate their assets to accepted levels of safety and environmental compliance.
We also provide advice, support and solutions on fleet performance and optimisation, voyage optimisation, enhancing our clients’ digital capability. Our digital solutions are relied upon by more than 20,000 vessels.
In the race to zero emissions, our research, technical expertise and industry-firsts are supporting a safe, sustainable maritime energy transition.
Lloyd’s Register Group is wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a politically and financially independent global charity that promotes safety and education. 
About Vard:  VARD is one of the world's leading designers and shipbuilders of specialized vessels providing unique "one stop shop" solutions for marine industries including offshore, renewable energy, navy, fishery, and cruise. Headquartered in Norway and with approximately 7,000 employees, VARD operates shipbuilding facilities in Norway, Romania, Brazil, and Vietnam. Through its specialized subsidiaries VARD provides fully integrated ship design, shipbuilding and equipment solutions to the global maritime industry including power and automation systems, deck handling equipment, and vessel accommodation.
VARD is driven by a clear purpose to drive the transition to zero emission emission ships. This is made possible through VARD’s long shipbuilding traditions and strong customer relationships. Combining cutting-edge innovation and technology with global operations to enable the next generation of low and zero emission vessels.
FINCANTIERI S.p.A. based in Trieste, Italy, is VARD's indirect major shareholder and controls 98 percent of the shares. FINCANTIERI is one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups, and a global leader in cruise ship design and reference player in all high-tech shipbuilding industry sectors. With over 230 years of history and more than 7,000 ships built, the Group today has a production network of 18 shipyards operating in four continents and over 20,000 employees.
About North Star:  North Star is the market leading UK provider of mission critical, offshore infrastructure support services to offshore wind and offshore oil and gas markets. 
The firm has bases in Aberdeen, Lowestoft, Newcastle and Hamburg, employs 1,300 crew and onshore personnel, and has been supporting the energy sector for the past four decades. Its offshore infrastructure support vessel fleet boasts 42 assets and provides continuous αround the clock support services to more than 50 North Sea installations. 
The company’s first two Service Operations Vessels (SOVs), the Grampian Tyne and flagship Grampian Derwent were delivered this summer (2023). A further two are under construction and all four are under charter for a 10-year minimum in the North Sea. The business has also invested in its first two of up to four Commissioning SOVs to support the growing European offshore wind market. 
The 135-year-old business, which was originally established to support the fisheries industry, is also the country’s largest employer of offshore cadets. Since 1996, it has trained hundreds of future deck and engineering trainees, investing £1million annually on average to develop the next generation.  
By combining safety, service and quality, the company delivers exceptional levels of support to its clients in one of world’s most challenging and demanding industries. 

Image: ‘North Star’s first two Vard built CSOVs to be classified by Lloyd’s Register’ 

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CLIA continues to celebrate 2023 as the “European Year of Skills” and to actively contribute to the development of skills in the cruise industry by organising one more educational cruise ship visit for students in Greece. This time the invitation was addressed to postgraduate students from the Maritime Studies Department of the University of Piraeus who had the opportunity to get onboard the cruise ship MSC Splendida of MSC Cruises at the Port of Piraeus on Saturday, October 21. The students had the opportunity to navigate through the world of cruising, learning about career opportunities in the cruise business and the industry’s actions on sustainability.
Hosted by CLIA’s National Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Mrs Maria Deligianni and MSC Cruises’ Vice President Sustainability & ESG, Mrs Linden Coppell, who presented virtually, as well as honored by the presence of the President of the Piraeus Port Authority, Mr Yu Zenggang, students of MSc in Shipping Management and MSc in Ports and Coastal Economy of the University of Piraeus were offered the opportunity of a guided tour of MSC Splendida in order to experience what cruising is about. The students were accompanied by Mr Thanos Pallis and Mr Aggelos Pantouvakis, professors of the Maritime Studies Department of the University of Piraeus.
Welcoming the students onboard MSC Splendida through a video message, the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Mr Christos Stylianides said: “Cruising is one of the most important tourist activities in Greece and in the wider Eastern Mediterranean region. The cruise sector is expected to bring even greater value to the sea tourism industry and at the same time bring significant benefits to all involved parts, it boosts the blue economy and demonstrates our commitment to ensuring sustainability in the maritime industry”.
Regarding the prospects for cruise in Greece Mr. Stylianides noted that “all experts agree that the positive course of the industry in our country will continue and we hope that we will have a further increase in cruise ship calls, which from next year may even exceed 10%”.
Executive Chairman of BoD of PPA S.A., Mr. Zenggang Yu expressed gratitude to CLIA and MSC Cruises for hosting an educational ship visit, emphasizing the significance of Piraeus as the largest passenger port in Europe and a vital Mediterranean cruise destination. Mr. Yu underlined the economic benefits brought by the cruise industry, particularly the growth in homeporting despite pandemic challenges. This is verified through a research study conducted by the Dept. of Maritime studies of the University of Piraeus which found that cruise tourists contribute significantly to the local economy, not only in Athens but also in Piraeus. The global economic impact of the cruise industry and sustainability efforts at Piraeus port are both in focus through decarbonisation and recognition for sustainability. Mr. Yu concluded by encouraging students to enjoy the presentations and ship visit and wished them success in their studies and professional careers.
Maria Deligianni, National Director, Eastern Mediterranean, CLIA presented an overview of trends and key figures for the cruise industry globally and in Greece as well as CLIA’s latest Sustainability report issued October 2023. “This initiative is part of CLIA’s priority to engage with students and young people who are interested in the dynamic cruise industry and raise awareness about its significant and growing impact on the economy and employment at global, European, and local level”, said Mrs Deligianni. “As a cruise industry we are sailing to a better future, and these young students are our future. We are delighted to be able to host these students onboard and give them the chance to “taste” and “feel” what cruising is about”, she added.
Linden Coppell, Vice President Sustainability & ESG, MSC Cruises presented the environmental technologies onboard and the MSC Cruises sustainability strategy, as well as facts about cruise industry careers. “Our sustainability programme is organised around four key pillars: Planet, People, Place and Procurement, ensuring that our attention is focused on the issues that matter the most. At MSC Cruises, we firmly believe that our people are the cornerstone of our success and employ talented team members worldwide. We understand that nurturing talent and providing opportunities for growth in a safe and supportive environment is paramount, and we work to ensure that we have a skilled and motivated workforce to achieve our sustainability goals and deliver exceptional experiences to our passengers” she said.
Professor Thanos Pallis noted on behalf of the University of Piraeus: “Cruise is a sector demonstrating great potential. It is also a sector that is based on the coordination of several stakeholders in order to achieve this potential in an economical, environmental, and socially sustainable way. This educational visit provided a unique opportunity to our postgraduate students to better understand the multiple and multidimensional efforts of cruise lines, and the port of Piraeus, in achieving such sustainable growth in all respects, and discuss the contribution of cruise activities to local communities. All these while experiencing a cruise vessel in full operation and the unique hospitality that MSC Cruises offers to its guests. Congratulations to CLIA Europe for this commendable initiative and to MSC Cruises for making this a unique experience for our students. Our Department of Maritime Studies will work with all partners involved to give to such educational visits a periodical character”.
The cruise industry offers a high-quality work environment with competitive wages and benefits, as well as training for crew members to perform jobs skillfully and advance on a rewarding career path. CLIA member cruise lines employ a multinational workforce in a huge variety of jobs, onboard as well as onshore, also including guest services, medical, entertainment, chefs etc. Often more than 60 nationalities may be working together onboard a ship at any time. Cruise also provides the most advanced opportunities for women in maritime, as 94% of women seafarers across the world are working in the cruise industry. At the same time, CLIA member cruise lines have focused on programmes that remove barriers for entry and offer independence for workers with disabilities.

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120 Greek and Italian Nautical High School students participated in a series of seminars on ocean and climate awareness as part of the ‘Ride the Wave’ program. The educational material was developed by scientists, educators, and representatives from organizations in the blue economy sector and is now available to Nautical Schools.
Specifically designed for Nautical Vocational Schools, the program focused on disseminating scientific knowledge and promoted a deeper understanding of the relationship between the climate and the oceans, highlighting their role in mitigating climate change. Ride the Wave also informed and guided young people towards pursuing careers within the Blue Economy.
The Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association – HELMEPA and the Italian environmental Association Marevivo Onlus (project leader) in collaboration with 2 high schools, the Nautical Institute "G. Da Verrazzano” (Porto Santo Stefano, Grosseto, Italy), and the 1st Vocational High School of Konistres (Evia, Greece), implemented the project simultaneously in both countries. Experts from both countries, as well as other EU countries and Canada, joined a webinar series to share inspiring environmental education initiatives from the Mediterranean region, North America, and the Arctic.
A Local Sea Network of organizations, linked to the Blue Economy sector, was set up to promote the exchange of good educational practices and the development of common initiatives for the protection and conservation of our seas. More than 120 students from the two Nautical Schools participated, and presented their work at the end of each educational phase:
- The Italian Institute created a mural art project the “Art for the Sea”, which combined science, artistic expression to inspire positive change and promote sustainable practices.
- The Greek Institute completed a collective project in which students conducted in-depth interviews with the personnel of Environmental Protection Engineering S.A. (EPE), a company based in Greece offering environmental protection services and products, including emergency response services for oil and chemical spills.
Both schools successfully joined the European Blue Schools Network.
A guide for educators was also compiled providing directions for the exchange and replication of the initiative as well as suggestions for the participation of interested parties (educators, maritime professionals, staff of environmental associations, etc.) in the teaching of ocean and climate topics.
The English version of the guide can be found HERE.

Note to editors:
“RIDE THE WAVE” – Ocean and Climate Literacy for Nautical High Schools project is funded by the European Erasmus+ Program 2021-2027- KA210-SCH-000049369 and serves as a powerful tool to raising awareness on the importance of protecting Mediterranean ecosystems and our shared cultural heritage and creates a model of cooperation between schools and environmental organizations to promote ocean and climate literacy.
For more information, please visit the official website and Facebook page of the project.

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Τhe 22nd NAVIGATOR 2023 – THE SHIPPING DECISION MAKERS FORUM, under the theme #NavigateTheChange, will take place on Thursday, November 9 th , 2023. This exclusive event will unfold at the iconic Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre (SNFCC) in Athens, commencing at 09.30hrs and concluding at 14.00hrs.

The Forum aims to bring together industry leaders and decision-makers to envision the “shipping industry of the next 20 years”. Given the forthcoming years are expected to be filled with experiments and dilemmas, the event seeks to gather insights and perspectives on the current landscape of the shipping industry. Participants can also  focus on specific subjects, with moderators prepared to address their questions.

Opening Remarks will be addressed by Secretary General for Insular Policy and Aegean - MINISTRY OF MARITIME AFFAIRS & INSULAR POLICY, Mr. Manolis Koutoulakis, and the Ambassador of the United States to the Hellenic Republic, H.E. George J. Tsunis.

This year’s forum will be consisted of the following 3 panels, delving into the economic aspects of the industry, technological trends, and innovations in the shipping world. In between each panel, the results, and final conclusions of the closed discussions of the 22^nd NAVIGATOR 2023 – THE SHIPPING DECISION MAKERS FORUM will be presented, covering the following themes:

1) DECARBONISATION,
2) MARITIME LOGISTICS, SUPPLY, PURCHASING & FORWARDING,
3) SMART SHIPPING,
4) INTERSECTION OF HUMAN PERFORMANCE, TECHNOLOGY &TRAINING,
5) HUMAN ELEMENT,
6) ESG, and finally
7) KNOW YOUR CLIENT.

1. U.S. oriented panel “Current trends and SEAsing opportunities”, which will provide a comprehensive overview of the current maritime landscape, with a focus on opportunities for business and industry trends.
2. Organizations and Institutions panel “Navigating Sustainable Seas: The Global Perspective”, demonstrating a comprehensive view of the global maritime industry’s efforts and challenges in achieving sustainability, with a focus on international collaboration, regulatory frameworks, eco-friendly technologies, and energy.
3. Panel with ship owning companies, “Masttechnologies and Change: Navigating Through Experiments and Dilemmas”, which will would deliver an inclusive overview of how industry leaders and experts are navigating the evolving maritime landscape, experimenting with new strategies and technologies, and addressing the dilemmas and challenges that come with change in the industry.

For more information and the Forum’s draft agenda, please visit:https://navigatorltd.gr/forums/22nd-navigator-forum-2023/
About NAVIGATOR SHIPPING CONSULTANTS: Established in 1991, NAVIGATOR has been a mainstay of the Greek shipping sector for more than 30 years, developing a robust network of towing companies and ship agencies around the world, offering tailor made programs to the Ship owning & Ship management Companies in more than 1,400 ports worldwide, thus significantly reducing their port costs.  «NAVIGATOR- The Shipping Decision Makers Forum», one of the most traditional events, is organized on an annual basis since 2001, bringing together Shipowners, Executives and Managers of the Shipping Industry worldwide to exchange views and ideas on the most crucial matters of Shipping.

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With the aim to provide assistance and information to its members carrying out their business better, Intercargo held the association's meeting in Athens four years after the last event that took place in Greece. The technical and executive committees of Intercargo discussed the latest developments on the decarbonization, safety and quality of bulk carriers. The full and associate members gathered at the Divani Hotel in Vouliagmeni, Athens for three days in an attempt to share their experience and align their efforts towards the future changes in shipping.
In view of Intercargo semi-annual event the association held its AGM meeting and a dinner reception with exceptional guests.
In the context of this unique event the president of Intercargo Mr. Dimitrios Fafalios and the management committee Dr Kostas Gkonis, Tom Keenan, Spyros Tarassis, Capt Uttam Upmaritime Jaiswal Capt Jay Pillai and Dimitris Monioudis gave a press conference on the latest challenges in shipping.
Mr. Dimitrios Fafalios, Chairman of Intercargo, mentioned that Intercargo has 159 full & 92 associate members. The Greek shipping companies are a significant part of Intercargo’s membership.
The 1^st topic that was discussed was the decarbonisation path and the practical implementation of IMO’s environmental targets.
Intercargo advices its members to monitor the efficiency of their fleet on a daily basis adopting saving systems and other special equipment. Regarding EU ETS puts a lot of bureaucracy especially in small and medium shipowners.
Mr. Fafalios said: “Aside of decarbonisation we are not taking our eye from safety and quality. All shipping stakeholders, shipyards, class societies, flag states etc have tried to solve the problem of loss bulk carriers taking timely and precisely actions to inform the industry regarding safety.
IACS took the initiative to maintain good records, work on crew safety and management of dry bulk carriers introducing common structural rules.
Rightship formed a self-assessment organization for the safety of bulk carriers in co-operation with Intercargo totally independent which has a wider view on decarbonisation, safety and quality.
The members of the management committee referred to Intercargo’s actions during covid-19 promoting seafarers as key workers for the international trade.
It is important to understand that without seafarers the industry cannot operate however in some occasions seafarers are treated like criminals and this is not right and fair.
We cannot attract young people in the industry if the port and security authorities do not treat them fairly. In addition to these vessels must be operated by qualified seafarers. It was also mentioned that dry cargo shipping carries 90% of goods so it is crucial for the world economy. Shipping always adopts the new technology to deal with the difficult world and local regulations. However, shipping has proved adaptive and moreover has retrofitted all necessary measures to achieve the targets of the energy transition.
In this framework Intercargo urges to develop infrastructure onboard and ashore for the adoption of alternative fuels following unanimous not local rules.

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With the aim to cultivate a culture of ESG excellence and discuss the challenges faced by the shipping industry towards a sustainable development, prominent and distinguished members of Greek shipping community were gathered on 20th of October 2023 to attend the 1st ESG CONFERENCE.
The event opened Helena Athousaki & Katerina Stathopoulou, Principal Organizers of ESG Shipping Awards and addressed by Manolis Koutoulakis, Secretary General of Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insural Policy, Dr. George Pateras, President of Hellenic Chamber of Shipping and Julia Tsetis, President of UN Global Compact Network Greece.
The conference kicked off with the opening remarks of Mr. Koutoulakis, Secretary General of Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy. “The Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy, along with the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping are supporting the ESG Shipping Awards, in order to encourage and promote the shipping industry’s effort to incorporate sustainability as a critical and fundamental part of its strategy.”
Dr George Pateras, President of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping (HCS) stressed the importance of the ESG reporting and announced the HCS guide to ESG reporting.
Mrs. Julia Tsetis the President of the UN Global Compact Network Greece, highlighted “We have developed a series of initiatives that help shipping companies to progress towards their sustainability goals by providing information, education, open dialogues and actions.”
Attendees had the privilege to listen to inspiring speeches from seven informative panels led by recognized experts in the field. The event fostered a collaborative environment where industry professionals shared their companies’ best practices, challenges, opportunities and the pressing ESG issues facing the industry.
The first Panel of speakers presented the topic “Leadership on ESG, Sustainability Integration, Building on ESG Strategy, Stakeholder Engagement and Reporting ESG Performance. Dimitrios Vastarouchas, DCOO CSO & Technical Director of Danaos Corporation, Dimitris Balamatsias ESG Manager of Neptune Lines Shipping, Georgia Fardellou Optional and Strategic Project Manager of Star Bulk Carriers Corp. and the Moderator Katerina Ronga, Partner, Risk Advisory, Sustainability and Climate Leader, Deloitte shared their thoughts and experiences on the ESG development.
Valeria Sterpos Patner of BAIN & Company presented the topic “Sustainable Fuel Transition in Shipping”.
Regarding the importance of EU ETS & Climate law, Artemis Polemis, Chemical Engineer Shipping GHG Manager, of EMICERT ESG referred to the latest trends and developments.
The topic “Preserving the environment” was presented by the following shipping senior executives: Evi Politi, R&D Director of Danaos Corporation, Katerina Sarri Finance Manager & Controller of Euronav Ship Management, Catherine Prifti DPA-HSQE Director of Laskaridis Shipping, Stavros Niotis Chief Sustainability Officer of Prime Marine, Vasileios Petousis Energy and Sustainability Officer of Seangery Maritime Holding Corp and Moderator: Vassilis Dimoulas Technology & Innovation Director Bureau Veritas.
The speakers performed a stimulating and productive discussion pointing out that the shipping companies have to follow a strategy suppliers’ engagement, transparent environmental goals, involvement in IMO regulations such as CII for the reduction of greenhouse air emissions.
Another significant ESG element is the Decarbonisation path of shipping incl. Alternative Energy, Eco efficiency, AI Decision making tools.
The following speakers gave their perspectives on the pre mentioned topic:
Kim Diederichsen, CEO Anemoi Marine Technologies, Michael Androulakakis Technical Manager of Avin International, Angus Whinston Communications Director of Deepsea Technologies, George Kotsyfis Technical Manager of Diana Shipping Inc, Elena Visone Naval Architect and Marine Engineer of Grimaldi Group, Fotis Belexis, Technical Director of Star Bulk Carrier Corp and Moderator: Andreas Kyrilis Partner BAIN & Company.
The speakers said that have adopted monitoring techniques for optimizing the vessels’ performance, retrofitted energy savings devices to achieve decarbonization goals towards the reduction of CO2 emissions. Other measures include vessel voyage optimization programs using AI and delivering newbuilding projects equipped with dual fuel engines such as ammonia powered ships and alternative fuels. The speakers also commented that regulations are moving rapidly despite the technology uncertainty putting the car before the horse, metaphorically speaking.
Viktoria Diamantidou Carbon Sales & Trading, of CF Partners referred to the EU ETS Carbon Markets and Shipping and the panel of experts that followed focused on Investing in People and more particular on Equal opportunities, Wellbeing of employees, People Development & Rewarding.
The panel included George Varinos, Managing Director of Century Bulk Carriers Management Co, Maria Christina Tsemani Chief People Officer of Diana Shipping Inc, Gavriella Anagnostou, HR Manager of Neptune Lines Shipping and Managing Enterprises SA and Moderator: Konstantinos Oikonomou, CEO Marine Tours.
The Panel Discussion Five examined the issue of Promoting Health & Safety and more specifically the topics of Developing H&S Program, Building H&S culture, Reporting H&S performance. The above aspects were presented by Apostolos Skembes HSQE Manager - DPA - Training Manager of Arcadia Shipmanagement Co. Ltd, Petros Vikos, HSQE Manager of Latsco Shipping Limited, Dimitra I. Kourmatzi, Head of ESG, Regional Compliance Officer EMEA & APAC of Survitec Group and Moderator: Kostas Karavassilis, Director UK P&I.
The New ESG Reporting Standards (IFRS S1, S2, & CSRD) was presented by Katerina Ronga, Partner Risk Advisory, Sustainability and Climate Leader, Deloitte.
The Panel Discussion Six was about Supporting the society including Social responsibility, Inclusive work environment, Community contribution, Code of conduct.
The above issues were discussed by Christophoros G. Vallianatos, Managing Director of Chandris (Hellas) Inc, Ioanna Skondra Marketing Manager & ESG Ambassador of Chandris (Hellas) Inc, Jenny Christodoulou, HR & Strategic Planning Manager of Laskaridis Shipping, Christie Bodouroglou Managing Director of Stem Shipping Services and Moderator: Michalis Pantazopoulos, Managing Director, Liberian Registry.
The last panel of discussion focused on the Acting Responsibility, Corporate Governance, Transparency and Accountability, Business Ethics, Stakeholders Communication.
The speakers were Tasos Marinopoulos Internal Audit Director & Compliance Officer of Danaos Corporation, Margarita Veniou Chief Corporate Development, Governance & Communications Officer of Diana Shipping, Korina Tapaktsoglou, Chief Financial Officer of Pioneer Marine Group and Moderator: Pakis Papadimitriou, Head ESG, Eurobank.
Conference Closing Remarks and Launching of ESG Shipping Awards 2024 were held by Helena Athoussaki & Katerina Stathopouloy, Principal Organisers of ESG Shipping Awards J.A.A.J. (Jan) Fransen, Chairman of Judging Committee, ESG Shipping Awards.
At the closing of THE CONFERENCE, the organizers announced the ESG Shipping Awards 2024 INTERNATIONAL on 20 May 2024 in Athens.

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SNAME honors its supporters in an award ceremony that was organised by the society at a night of maritime excellence and knowledge sharing.
SNAME awarded the following companies: MAN Diesel, ELCKO, Alba, ICS Greek Branch, Det Norske Veritas, Bureau Veritas, Capital Ship Management, Arcadia Shipmanagement, Atlantic Bulk Carriers, MacGregor, Lloyd’s Register, ABS, Liberia Registry, Wartsila and The American Club.
The event took place at the new premises of V.Ships in Piraeus.
Prior to the award ceremony a panel discussion took place with topic: “If you were the owner, what choices would you make in the new environment”.
The panel included: Mrs Konstantina Aravantinou, Sales Manager Wartsila, Mr. Vassilios Dimoulas, Technology & Innovation Director Bureau Veritas, Mr. Nikos Economou, General Secretary of “Association of Banking and Financial Executives of Hellenic Shipping”, Mr. Costas Maounis, Projects Director Polembros Shipping, Mr. John Papazafiriou, Director BU1 Franman, Mr. Spyros Sofianos, Head of Sales MAN ES, Mr. George Zindros, Manager Business Development ABS and Moderator was Professor Dimitris Lyridis, National Technical University of Athens.
The speakers agreed that shipping companies have to adopt several steps towards decarbonisation such as voyage planning optimization and energy onboard savings.
The provision of bank Finance will be also directly connected with the sustainability reports of the companies. The most possible fuel choice will be LNG and biofuels or a blend of fuels which reduce dioxide emissions.
New technologies are also in place and shipping industry prepares for the next step which will be the option of non-carbon fuels produced by renewable energy.

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ERMA FIRST, a leading global provider of sustainable maritime solutions, has received the coveted South Korean flag Type Approval for its market-leading ERMA FIRST FIT BWTS.
Awarded by the administration of the Republic of Korea, the ERMA FIRST FIT BWTS is now one of the few non-domestic systems to hold such Type Approval, which is an essential requirement for systems being installed on South Korean flagged vessels.
Mr. Konstantinos Stampedakis, Co-Founder & Managing Director, ERMA FIRST, said: “ERMA FIRST has been supporting shipowners in Asia for many years and this Type Approval opens up a whole new market for the ERMA FIRST FIT BWTS ahead of the D2 Ballast Water Performance Standard deadline, in September 2024.
“We are delighted to have received this approval from the administration of the Republic of Korea. The addition of the Korean Type Approval means the system is now triple-accredited where Korean-flagged vessels are concerned, as it also holds IMO and USCG Type Approvals.”
Mr. Seong-Kyu Chae, Vice President, Magna Mare - ERMA FIRST’s agent in South Korea - added: “This is a meaningful milestone for ERMA FIRST in the Korean market. According to Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, around 9,000 vessels fly the South Korean flag, 2,000 of which are merchant ships. There is a huge opportunity to support vessels under the South Korean flag to meet the BWMS D2 standard using ERMA FIRST’s reliable and proven technologies, and Magna Mare is proud to serve ERMA FIRST and its customers in the region.”
The ERMA FIRST FIT BWTS is an advanced modular system suitable for both newbuild and retrofit projects. Credited with setting the industry benchmark for sustainable ballast water treatment, the major components of the system include a high-end backwash filter and electrolytic cell that perform to the highest standard. Covering an extensive capacity range of 50 – 3740 m³/hr and certified for operation in the most challenging conditions, ERMA FIRST FIT BWTS is the ideal solution for all types and sizes of ships.
ABOUT ERMA FIRST: ERMA FIRST - Preserving and Protecting Marine Ecosystems
Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Greece, ERMA FIRST is a leading manufacturer of ballast water treatment systems (BWΤS) and sustainable marine equipment solutions. Our robust systems and solutions ensure worldwide compliance, provide operational simplicity and reduce operational expenditure.
ERMA FIRST's customer-centric approach offers flexible and convenient servicing through a trusted network of certified engineers worldwide. ERMA FIRST provides sales, maintenance and training to clients via a network of offices in 46 countries.
ERMA FIRST offers a complete range of ballast water treatment solutions (BWTS), holding USCG & IMO Type Approvals. In addition, ERMA FIRST is an experienced manufacturer of pioneering sustainable marine equipment solutions including: an advanced Alternative Maritime Power (AMP) solution – BLUE CONNECT – and a new Energy Saving Device (ESD) - FLEXCAP - which builds on the proven capabilities of propeller cap fins to optimise maritime efficiency and sustainability.
ERMA FIRST is also currently developing an amine absorption-based Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) system that was recently awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) from DNV.
ERMA FIRST won the Lloyd’s List Technical Achievement Award (2013), the GREEN4SEA Technology Award (2016) and GREEN4SEA Sustainability Award (2023).

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