Capital Link Operational Excellence in Shipping Forum that held on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at the Athenaeum Intercontinental Athens presented the maritime sustainability award to Emanuele Grimaldi chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping President & MD - Grimaldi Euromed SpA Managing Director - Grimaldi Group. The prize was delivered to him by Mrs. Melina Travlou, President - Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) Chair of the Board - Neptune Lines.
In her introductory remarks Mrs. Melina Travlou said that E. Grimaldi inspires any businessman with his professional ethos and hands-on approach promoting realistic solutions for the benefit of shipping industry in an uncertain and difficult geopolitical environment.
In his address Mr Grimaldi described his vision for a greener and sustainable shipping industry and referred to the fundamental role of Greek shipping industry in the world trade. He also called for a holistic approach towards developing new fuels and stressed that shipping needs global solutions.
With a 14-year track record Capital Link is the only Forum that showcases Operational Excellence in the Maritime Sector and explores Best Industry Practices across all major areas such as fleet management, technological innovation, crewing, energy efficiency and the environment, safety & security. Special attention was paid to sustainability and ESG considerations.
The Forum provided an interactive platform on the topic of Operational Excellence, Best Industry Practices and Sustainability linking shipping companies, charterers, regulators, government and non-government industry associations, classification societies, P&I Clubs, flag registries, technology & service providers and the financial and investment community.
During the conference, an impressive video was presented from the inauguration of the Nautical Academy in Chios which was recently established by the Tsakos Group with the certification of the Cypriot government. Present at the event were Captain Panagiotis Tsakos and his son Nikolaos Tsakos, President & CEO of TEN Ltd., a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, who accepted the congratulations of the organizers and delegates for the new effort that will strengthen the maritime education of young ship officers.
This year's forum once more featured industry leaders addressing a global audience.
THE AGENDA OF THE CONFERENCE
WELCOME REMARKS by Mr. Nicolas Bornozis, President - Capital Link
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS by Mr. Christopher J. Wiernicki, Chairman & CEO - ABS
FUEL POTENTIAL UNLOCKED – NATURALLY POWERED BY XBEE
Presentation by: Mr. Roy Gebbink, Managing Director – XBEE Marine
REALITY CHECK ON MARINE FUELS & ENERGY TRANSITION
Availability, Affordability & Scalability
Moderator: Mr. Vassilis Dimoulas, Technology & Innovation Director SEEBA Zone - Bureau Veritas
Panelists: Dr. George D. Pateras, President - Hellenic Chamber of Shipping; Deputy Chairman - Contships Management, Mr. Kostas Polydakis, CEO - MM Marine, Mercuria Energy Group; Head of Shipping-Minerva Bunkering, Mercuria Energy Group, Mr. Constantinos Capetanakis, Bunker Director - Star Bulk Carriers Corp; Chair – IBIA, Mr. George Saroglou, President & COO - TEN Ltd.
SAFETY & SUSTAINABILITY - SAFEGUARDING THE CREWS, CARGOES, & THE ENVIRONMENT
Moderator: Mr. Christopher J. Wiernicki, Chairman & CEO – ABS
Panelists: Mr. Stylianos Psillakis, Technical Director - Columbia Shipmanagement, Mr. George Poularas, CEO - Enesel SA, Mr. Kostas Karathanos, COO – GasLog Ltd., Mr. Roberto P. Cazzulo, Council Chair - International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), Mr. Dimitrios Fafalios, Chairman - INTERCARGO; President / Director – Fafalios Shipping
SPOTLIGHT ON HUMAN SUSTAINABILITY
Moderator Mr. Michalis Pantazopoulos, General Manager - Liberian Registry (LISCR Hellas)
Panelists: Mr. Vangelis Sfakiotakis, COO - Diana Shipping Services S.A., Ms. Ioanna Lali, D.E.I. Officer & Alternate Crew Manager - Dorian LPG Ltd., Mr. Tim Ponath, CEO - NSB Group, Mr. Theo Baltatzis, General Manager - Technomar Shipping, Ms. Venetia Kallipolitou, Cross Department HR & Training Manager - Tsakos Group; Commander – Hellenic Coast Guard (Retired)
NAVIGATING TROUBLED WATERS
Rear Admiral Vasileios Gryparis HN, Operational Commander "EUNAVFOR ASPIDES" - Hellenic Navy General Staff
KEYNOTE REMARKS
H.E. Christos Stylianides, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy - Hellenic Republic of Greece
RIDING THE TECHNOLOGY WAVE
Fleet Performance Optimization Through Innovation & Digitalization
Moderator: Mr. Spyridon Zolotas, Senior Director – RINA
Panelists: Mr. Dimitris Vastarouchas, COO & Vice President – Danaos Corporation, Mr. Marcos Vassilicos, Managing Director – Eurobulk, Mr. Antonios Georgantzis, COO – Latsco Marine Management, Mr. Costas Kontes, Group Commercial Director Europe / Managing Director – Mediterranean Cluster – V.Ships Greece Ltd.
ALL ABOUT CARBON - CARBON CAPTURE, STORAGE AND DISPOSAL
Moderator: Dr. Chara Georgopoulou, Head of R&D and Advisory Unit Greece, Onboard CCS Manager, Maritime – DNV
Panelists: Mr. Jerry Kalogiratos, CEO - Capital Clean Energy Carriers Corp., Mr. Jasper Heikens, CCO – Ecolog, Ms. Eleni Polychronopoulou, President - ERMA FIRST GROUP, Mr. Nikolas Rigas, Head of Carbon Storage – EnEarth, Mr. George Daskalakis, Head Technology Management, Strategy Division - Motor Oil (Hellas)
GOING INTO 2025 - FUELEU MARITIME & EU ETS
1x1 Discussion: Mr. Frederic Bouthillier, Head of Shipping - Vertis Environmental Finance with Ms. Vanessa Tzoannos, Partner - Hill Dickinson
PORT STATE CONTROL – CHINA
Presentation by: Mr. Francis Chin, Executive Director – Singhai Marine Services (Singapore)
THE SHIPOWNER’S PERSPECTIVE - LOOKING AHEAD
Moderator: Ms. Elina Papageorgiou, Global Strategic Growth Director & Vice President, Greece & Cyprus - Lloyd’s Register
Panelists: Mr. Sveinung Støhle, Deputy CEO - Angelicoussis Group, Mr. Jerry Kalogiratos, CEO - Capital Clean Energy Carriers Corp., Mr. Thomas Lister, CEO - Global Ship Lease Ltd, Mr. George Thanopoulos, CEO - Neda Maritime Agency Co. Ltd., Ms. Charis Plakantonakis, Chief Strategy Officer - Star Bulk Carriers Corp.
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