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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