Ian Gooch from The London P&I Club will be stepping down during the year from the role of Chief Executive Officer after 15 years as CEO and 21 years as a Director of A.Bilbrough & Co., the Company that manages The London P&I Club.

Subject to regulatory approval, Ian Gooch will be succeeded by James Bean, from NorthStandard P&I Club.

A qualified Solicitor, James Bean has worked within the marine insurance industry since 2005 and was appointed to the NorthStandard’s senior leadership team in February 2023. Prior to that he was the Group Managing Director at the Standard Club.

To ensure an orderly transition, Ian Gooch will continue as a member of the A Bilbrough & Co. team, providing support to James and the senior management team.

“Having served The London P&I Club and Bilbrough for over two decades, I am very proud of what our team has accomplished. After such a tenure, following a strong renewals season and the Club’s positive trajectory, I feel the time is right to step aside. I am confident that the Club will continue its growth as an independent mutual marine insurance provider under James’ leadership and that he will bring new perspectives and opportunities to evolve. He is exceptionally experienced and brings a deep industry knowledge, a proven track-record of success and a shared appreciation of the values of the Club," said Ian Gooch.

“It is a real privilege to take this next step in my career and join The London P&I Club at an exciting time for the company. I look forward to working closely with the Club’s Board of Directors, Members’ Committee and Management group, as well as its Members and Assureds. On a personal level, I greatly valued all of my time at NorthStandard and the opportunities and experiences afforded to me over the past 19 years and I would like to thank everyone for their continued support,” said James Bean.

Chairman of the London P&I Club, John M Lyras, said “I am delighted to welcome James to the Club. He has first-rate credentials with extensive industry experience, and he will have all the support he may need from the Board, Members’ Committee and our Membership for his new role. I am pleased to say that Ian will remain involved with us, supporting James and the team in continuing to deliver the highest standards of service for the Club and increasing our Membership, in line with our strategic goals.”

The London P&I Club is a leading provider of marine Protection and Indemnity (P&I), Freight, Demurrage and Defence (FD&D) and War Risks cover to an international membership of shipowners and charterers with a combined tonnage totalling 69m gt.  It is also one of The International Group of P&I Club’s 12 member Clubs, which together provide marine mutual cover to approximately 90% of the world’s ocean-going tonnage.

The Club recently reported a strong outcome to the February 2024 P&I renewal, and saw year on year growth in its mutual tonnage of 8.9%. These positive developments were in line with the Board’s targets and recent actions to improve the Club’s financial performance and come alongside a much improved claims experience and positive investment return in the 2023/24 financial year, on which a full report will be issued in due course.

Caption: James Bean will succeed Ian Gooch as London P&I Club CEO
Credit: London P&I Club/James Bean

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Neptune Maritime Leasing Limited, a growth-oriented maritime leasing platform with the mission to providing shipowners with access to a flexible financing tool, has joined the Neptune team Chih Keong Kwek as Director of Origination Asia. He will be based in Singapore.

Harris Antoniou, Founder and CEO of Neptune Leasing, commented: “We are pleased to announce the expansion of our services to Asia and honored that yet another leading shipping expert has agreed to join our platform of leasing services to the maritime community. CK will help us expand our coverage of the ever-growing Asian market and thus reach our goal to build a high-quality, both sector and geographically diversified portfolio in shipping. I welcome CK to Neptune Leasing.”

“I am thrilled to be part of the Neptune Maritime Leasing family,” says CK. “I have worked with Harris previously at Fortis and ABN AMRO, and I have been following the development of Neptune Leasing ever since the company was founded 3 years ago. I look forward to contributing to the momentum that he and his team have built up and to delivering exceptional value to our clients.”

CK Kwek is a seasoned corporate banker with more than 30 years of regional banking experience with leading financial institutions across a number of corporate banking functions in structured finance, loan underwriting and distribution, maritime finance, and risk management.

Until recently, CK was Chief Risk Officer at ABN AMRO Singapore. Prior to that he was Head of Shipping at Nordea Singapore and Head of Transportation at Fortis Singapore. He started his banking career with the Debt Capital Markets Group of ING Barings in 1993.

CK received his BBA (Merit) from the National University of Singapore and his MBA (Distinction) from New York University. He is also a certified Financial Risk Manager, and was a Guest Lecturer for the Executive Master of Maritime Administration program at Dalian Maritime University from 2008 to 2010.

About Neptune Maritime Leasing

Neptune Maritime Leasing was established in 2021. It is a growth-oriented maritime leasing platform with the mission to providing shipowners with access to a flexible financing tool and investors with secure access to an under-invested asset class with attractive real yield. Our strategy is to buy high quality assets and build a portfolio of long-term contracts through sale and leaseback transactions in diverse maritime sectors. We are committed to delivering attractive, long term, risk-adjusted, and responsible returns to our investors, by advancing global trade and economic growth through supporting the maritime industry responsibly, and by making a positive contribution to the environment and to society as a whole. Following the $220 million investment that Costamare Inc. and Latsco Family Office made in Neptune in March 2023, Marine Money selected Neptune Leasing as the Deal of the Year 2023 Award Winner - Private Equity.

Image: Harris Antoniou, Founder and CEO of Neptune Leasing

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Distinction with four awards at the Sports Marketing Awards 2024!

The top golf tournament for the maritime community, Greek Maritime Golf Event, returns for its 10th anniversary, renewing its annual meeting with the Greek and global maritime industry, on September 5-8, 2024, at Costa Navarino, in Messinia.

Top golf event in Greece

Greek Maritime Golf Event celebrates its 10 years in the best way possible, as it was once again distinguished at the Sports Marketing Awards 2024, as the best golf event in Greece. Specifically, the tournament received a total of 4 awards, 1 Gold award in the “Corporate Sports Event” category, 1 Silver in the “Individual Sports and Golf” category, as well as 1 Silver and 1 Bronze for its successful sponsorship collaborations with Miele Hellas at the golf courses of Costa Navarino and Glyfada.

The renowned Greek PGA golfer and organizer of the tournament with Birdie Events, Mr. Thanos Karantzias, stated: “We are especially pleased that the maritime tournament we organize has managed over these years to develop and establish itself as one of the most important golf events in Greece. I want to express a big thank you to our sponsors and partners who have always been with us, in our effort to promote the sport of golf. We renew our appointment for September 5-8 and invite everyone at Costa Navarino to celebrate together the 10th anniversary event which will be full of activities and surprises”.

Competition at Navarino Hills

Greek Maritime Golf Event will once again bring together more than 80 top executives from the maritime industry who will form teams of four. Golfers will have the opportunity to compete at the Costa Navarino golf courses, in a destination ranked in the Top 10 of the “Top 100 World Resorts” list and awarded as the “World’s Best Golf Venue” at the World Golf Awards 2023. The rounds will take place on the two signature 18-hole courses, designed by two-time Masters champion and Ryder Cup legend, José María Olazábal, at Navarino Hills, in an idyllic landscape with centuries-old olive trees and stunning views of the Ionian Sea, the historic Navarino Bay, and the picturesque port of Pylos.

Watch the event’s teaser video here: https://youtu.be/R0dinM_q_Ks?si=7vbilp5WuAfSUrxc

The golf rounds

Participants will compete on a team level on Friday, September 6, in a shotgun scramble competition at the International Olympic Academy Golf Course. Similarly, on Saturday, September 7, they will take part in a shotgun scramble competition at The Hills Course.

Awards for the top teams & players

Teams will claim the top three positions in the overall standings, while there will also be special awards for players who achieve the best performances in the “Longest Drive” and “Closest to the Pin” categories.

Significant companies embrace the event

Greek Maritime Golf Event is attended by some of the most significant maritime companies from Greece and Cyprus, and many other important Greek companies that support the event.
IRI/The Marshall Islands Registry is the event’s Platinum Sponsor.
Mainline Shipping Company and Marine Logistics are the event’s Gold Sponsors.
Arrow Hellas, DNV, and Marine Tours are the event’s Silver Sponsors.
Teddy’s Speakeasy is the Official Sponsor.
Poseidonia Restaurant is the Official Supporter.
Under Armour is the Official Clothing Partner.
Messinian Nest, Mind the Ad, Karalis Beach Hotel, Skinos, La Cucina Italiana, Athi Rodi, and Daily Deli are the event’s Partners.
Messinian Nest, PHEE, and Kois Accommodation are the Auction Partners.
Boo Productions is the Audio Visual Partner.
Greek Maritime Golf Event, organized by Birdie Events, is an initiative of the recognized Greek PGA golfer, Thanos Karantzias. The sports marketing agency of the year, ActiveMedia Group is responsible for the event’s Golf Production. The tournament is exclusively addressed to distinguished members of the Greek maritime industry.

More information about this year’s event schedule and the unique moments that golfers will experience throughout the tournament will be announced in the coming weeks. #greekmaritimegolfevent #costavarino

Photo Credit: Greek Maritime Golf Event by Angelos Zymaras

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Capital-Executive Ship Management Corp. has taken delivery of the newbuilding vessels C/V ‘Avios’ and C/V ‘Astraios’. These are the final two ships in a series of nine sister vessels, each with a capacity of 1,827 TEU and equipped with 375 plugs for refrigerated containers. The vessels were constructed by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. Ltd. in South Korea.
The container vessels ‘Avios’ and ‘Astraios’ feature optimized hull designs and incorporate advanced technologies focused on enhancing energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact. Compared to older vessel designs, these ships achieve up to 65% lower energy consumption and 80% reduction in NOx emissions, facilitated by a Tier III NOx catalyst. Additionally, this series of vessels are prepared for Alternative Marine Power (AMP), LNG Dual Fuel ready.  
Capital-Executive Ship Management Corp. currently operates a fleet of 37 vessels including 30 container carriers and 7 modern bulk carriers with a total dwt of 2.49 million tons approx. and total teu of 131,498. The fleet under management includes vessels of Nasdaq-listed Capital Product Partners L.P.

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On April 3rd, 2024, Elections were held at WIMA "Worldwide Industrial & Marine Association" for the election of members of the new Board of Directors. The entirety of the Association's members participated in the elections.
The new Board of Directors was formed as follows:
Elias Hajiefremidis (HAJIEFREMIDIS S.A.) – PRESIDENT
George Papamanolis (ELVIK S.A. ) - VICE PRESIDENT
Ioannis Kordatos (HELLENIC WELDING ASSOCIATION) - GENERAL SECRETARY
George Lygeros (PSYCTOTHERM) - DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY
Sofoklis Kokkinis  (P. KOKKINIS Ltd.) – TREASURER
Spyros Goumas (SQLEARN) - PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
Vasilios Chrysopoulos (TURBO GENERAL S.A.) - INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICER
Alternate members elected were: Aggelos Drakopoulos, Georgia Sgouraki (GO-SHIPPING) Nikolaos Syrigos (Bellows Hellas OE)
During the ensuing discussion, the new Board of Directors unanimously agreed to work for the purposes of the Association, focusing on presenting and promoting the capabilities of its members to shipping companies, organizations, missions, conferences, and exhibitions in Greece and abroad. Special attention will be given to collaboration with shipbuilding and repair units as well as the utilization of new European and national programs announced by the Government.

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C&A Stavros Kassidiaris S.A. recently upgraded its partnership with DHL Express, leveraging their GoGreen Plus service, which uses eco-friendly aviation fuel (SAF) for order deliveries. By opting for SAF, we actively reduce the carbon footprint of our shipments, demonstrating our firm commitment to environmental responsibility.
Prioritizing sustainable practices, we empower the companies that choose to work with us, to join us in this endeavor. Together, let's embrace eco-conscious choices and contribute to a greener future. SAF represents not only a crucial step in achieving our sustainability objectives but also signals our dedication to a more sustainable future.
At C&A Stavros Kassidiaris S.A., our dedication to environmental responsibility is unwavering. We deeply value every effort made towards making a positive impact on our planet.

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Green Award Foundation welcomed Black Rope, a leading global mooring solutions provider, as its newest Incentive Provider. This strategic partnership aims to promote safer and more environmentally friendly mooring practises in the maritime industry.
Black Rope, the winner of the prestigious 2023 Lloyd's List Greek Shipping Awards Safety Award, is renowned for its comprehensive range of mooring products and services. With a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility producing high-quality mooring ropes and a team of experts offering consultancy, inspection and training services, Black Rope is committed to maximising safety in mooring operations.

As part of this collaboration, Black Rope will offer exclusive discounts to Green Award certified ships on two of its innovative products:

1. SAFELINE Mooring Management & Monitoring Software: A cutting-edge digital solution designed to streamline mooring operations, enhance safety, and optimise performance.
2. ASB (Anti Snap Back) Ropes: Advanced mooring ropes engineered to minimise the risk of snap-back incidents, ensuring crew safety during mooring operations.

By leveraging Black Rope's expertise and Green Award's extensive network of certified ships, this partnership seeks to drive the adoption of best practises in mooring safety and sustainability across the global shipping community.
“We are thrilled to join forces with Black Rope, a company that shares our unwavering commitment to safety and sustainability in the maritime industry," said Jan Fransen, Executive Director of Green Award Foundation. "Through this partnership, we aim to provide our certified ships with access to innovative mooring solutions that not only enhance safety but also contribute to more efficient and environmentally friendly operations.”
Co-Founders Mr. Christos Leoussis, Mr. Aristeidis Deligiannis and Capt. Vasilis Giannopoulos expressed their enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, "Partnering with Green Award Foundation aligns perfectly with our core philosophy of promoting safe and sustainable mooring practises. We look forward to supporting Green Award certified ships with our cutting-edge products and services, working together to create a safer and greener future for the shipping industry."
With a strategic global network spanning major key-port areas, Black Rope is well-positioned to serve Green Award certified ships worldwide, ensuring they have access to the latest mooring technologies and expertise wherever their operations take them.

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The ESG Shipping Awards, in collaboration with the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, hosted a compelling side event titled "ESG Strategies for Sustainable Shipping" as part of the esteemed 9^th Our Ocean Conference 2024 in Greece. This event served as a pivotal platform for industry leaders and experts to engage in insightful discussions and share invaluable perspectives on the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors into the strategy and decision-making processes within the shipping industry. With a focus on critical topics such as alignment with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), addressing environmental challenges, promoting social responsibility, and exploring economic benefits in the maritime sector, the event aimed to promote sustainable practices and investments, foster collaboration, and drive positive impact on ocean sustainability.
“As the cruise industry pursues net zero emissions by 2050, collaboration will be key to unlocking future potential and achieving our ambitious commitments. We need to work together – cruise operators, suppliers, terminals, ports, and destinations – as we strive for cruise to become an ever more sustainable way of discovering the world. Key areas of focus among CLIA member lines include climate action, sustainable tourism, conservation, diversity, and inclusion, with the health, safety and security of passengers and crew foremost. People are at the heart of our industry. We offer an inclusive, multicultural work environment, with often more than 60 nationalities working onboard, and 94% of women seafarers working on cruise ships.” stated Maria Deligianni, Regional Director, Eastern Mediterranean, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Rose Easton, Chief Responsible Investment Ecosystems Officer, UN PRI stressed that “Investors have a key role to play in supporting the adoption of sustainable practices in the maritime sector. Responsible investment is now becoming mainstream, and investors are increasingly incorporating frameworks like the UN Sustainable Development Goals when aligned with their fiduciary duties, expecting companies to incorporate responsible practices into their day-to-day business practices. Companies that adopt good sustainability practices, are governed well, and prioritize doing due diligence on their own supply chains should be rewarded by increased demand and that in turn generates better shareholder value. Capital is available to fund innovation and transition as the industry is progressing its decarbonization journey”.
Mrs. Vivi Kolliopoulou, President, WISTA Hellas emphasized the significance of ‘Diversity – including but not limited to gender diversity - is key in providing a sustainable future for the shipping industry internationally. An environment with reduced inequalities promotes the well-being of its employees and contributes towards sustainable economic growth.’
‘The shipping industry faces significant challenges in complying with environmental regulations, including the complexity and inconsistency of regulations across regions, high costs associated with implementing environmentally friendly practices, and the global nature of the industry that complicates enforcement and monitoring.’, said Mrs. Eleni Polychronopoulou, President, Hellenic Marine Equipment Manufacturers and Exports (HEMEXPO). Moderator of the panel was Helena Athoussaki, Principal Organizer, ESG Shipping Awards

The event facilitated in-depth discussions on the following topics:
- Alignment with SDGs: Exploring how the maritime industry aligns with the United Nations'
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the commitments of participating organizations to contribute to these global objectives.
- Environmental Challenges: Identifying the key environmental challenges facing the maritime industry and discussing the measures necessary to address these challenges effectively, ensuring the long-term health of marine ecosystems.
- Inclusivity and Social Responsibility: Discussing strategies for promoting inclusivity and social responsibility within the maritime industry, both in terms of workforce diversity and engagement with local communities, and highlighting specific social aspects supported by
articipating organizations.
Successful Examples of ESG Practices: Showcasing successful examples of companies or organizations in the maritime industry that have implemented ESG practices, and examining the economic benefits and opportunities that arise from such initiatives, including improved operational efficiency and enhanced stakeholder trust.
Support from Investors and Financial Institutions: Exploring how investors and financial institutions can support the adoption of ESG practices in the maritime sector and identifying key components that typically capture their interest when evaluating such practices, such as transparent reporting and measurable impact metrics.
The side event, "ESG Strategies for Sustainable Shipping," underscored the importance of collaboration and innovative solutions in advancing sustainability within the maritime industry.

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After a successful mid-term meeting of the ExCo (Executive Committee) of WISTA International, the Women's International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) held its Mid-Term Conference with the theme "We Are All Connected in Shipping." Hosted and organised by WISTA Türkiye, this pivotal event brought together industry leaders, experts and stakeholders to explore the interconnectedness of the global shipping sector and advocate for greater diversity and inclusion.
In her opening speech, Elpi Petraki, President of WISTA International, emphasised the organisation's dedication to advocating for its members and the broader maritime, trading, and logistics community. She highlighted WISTA's proactive engagement in pivotal International Maritime Organization (IMO) meetings, such as the recent Joint ILO/IMO Tripartite Working Group (JTWG), focusing on enhancing the safety of women seafarers and addressing issues of sexual assault and harassment at sea.
Additionally, she reaffirmed WISTA's commitment to participating in high-level discussions and initiatives concerning the future of employment within these industries, ensuring that women's involvement and empowerment are integral to decision-making processes.
WISTA International, with over 5000 members in 59 countries, represents a diverse range of industry professionals, including ship owners, operators, mariners, traders, logistics and port executives, legal and finance experts, engineers, government officials and seafarers. Emphasising the importance of diversity, Petraki remarked, "In today's global marketplace, evolution is critical for optimal performance and the best way to achieve greater innovation is through diversity of thought."
The conference agenda encompassed key areas affecting the industry, beginning with insightful keynote speeches by Mr. Tamer Kiran, the Turkish Chamber of Shipping Chairman, and Ms. Mariana Noceti from the Technical Cooperation Division of the IMO.
The day's discussions dealt with pressing topics such as the impact of sanctions on shipping, the EU Emission Trade Scheme, technology utilisation onboard and ashore, and the role of Istanbul as an arbitration centre.
The panel sessions were moderated throughout the conference by distinguished industry figures, including Prof. Dr Ahmet Samim Unan, Mr. Cihan Ergenc, Mr. Levent Sen, and Ms. Nazli Selek. These sessions featured esteemed panellists from various sectors, offering diverse perspectives and insights into the maritime industry's challenges and opportunities.
In addition to fostering dialogue and knowledge sharing, WISTA International is championing its pledge for diversity and inclusion within the maritime sector. The pledge calls on industry stakeholders to embrace diversity of thought, champion equal opportunity and pay, confront implicit bias, and promote gender-neutral practices in recruitment and evaluation. It invites all industry stakeholders to take their pledge; together, we can work towards a more equitable and prosperous maritime sector.

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Chios Marine Club and Piraeus Marine Services S.A. jointly organized on the 17^th of April a presentation on “ENERGY SAVING DEVICES” with special emphasis on propellers. The presentation was held at the pleasant, purpose-built Angelicoussis Group Auditorium, Athens, Greece. It was attended by Managers, Technical Managers of the Shipping Industry also Members and Friends of the Chios Marine Club.
The President of Chios Marine Club, Capt. Antonis Pitsilos, opened the event and welcoming all participants emphasized on: “The importance of saving energy, achieving the goals of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to reduce emissions from shipping and its global impact”.
The General Manager of Piraeus Marine Services S.A and General Secretary of the Chios Marine Club, Mrs. Maria Tripolitis welcomed the distinguished guests and introduced the discussion procedure to present the program and topics.
Accordingly, the Founder and President of Piraeus Marine Services S.A. Mr. Markos Tripolitis, after greeting the members of the maritime scientific community in attendance, emphasized the necessity of adopting Energy Saving Technologies that must install on vessels. He explained why propeller replacement is the most appropriate initial action in order to achieve emission reduction targets in shipping, especially in cases where, due to regulations, the speed reduction exceeds 10% of the vessel's trial speed.
Then came Mr. Antonis Trakakis, Technical Director, Marine of the Italian Classification Society RINA, who introduced a proposal developed by RINA for the Dolphin57 ships, in collaboration with Nautilus Energy Management.
The CEO of Nautilus Energy Management Corp. Mr. Akis Tsirigakis, proceeded to present a complete proposal that formulated jointly with the Italian Classification Society (RINA) specifically for the Dolphin57 series of vessels, but applicable to other types of vessels as well. He explained the importance of retrofitting the propeller and accessories as an-optimized package, being the initial step on the path to complying with the new regulations. In addition to significant energy savings and monetary benefits, he explained that such a permanent retrofit enhances the vessel’s resale value.
A lengthy discussion followed, with questions from the delegates attending the event, exchanging opinions, underlining the great interest and focus on the matter.

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