Dorothea Ioannou has assumed the position of Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) with responsibility for the implementation of overall strategy for the commercial development and growth of the American Club and its associated enterprises.

Dorothea Ioannou

Her role encompasses the coordination of sales, marketing, product development and service delivery. The fulfillment of her duties will form an integral part of senior management activity in close cooperation with other members of the executive team.

Well-known both among the Club's membership and within the broader maritime community, Dorothea joined the Managers in 2005 on the opening of the Piraeus office for which she has had chief responsibility for the last decade, part of her twenty-years' experience across a variety of disciplines in the marine insurance sector. A New York-qualified lawyer, Dorothea has been responsible in recent years for the Club's global business development initiatives, and was last year honored with the Lloyd's List Next Generation in Shipping Award.

Arpad Kadi has assumed the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He has responsibility for supervising the many functional elements of the organization's overarching financial strategy. These include, among others, day-to-day accounting, financial metrics and controls, and relationships with the Club's auditors and other agencies, both private and public.

Arpad, who is well known to many Members, joined the Managers in 2002 and has most recently performed the role of Controller and Treasurer. Arpad is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with over thirty-years of professional experience in that, and related, capacities.

Manish (Manny) Beri has taken on the dual role of Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Security Officer (CSO). He has responsibility for overall strategy in the development and implementation of the organization's IT and related capabilities, including systems enhancement and cyber-security.

Again, Manny is well known both among the membership and within the larger community. He currently serves as Chairman of the International Group of P&I Clubs' Information Technology Sub-Committee. An honors graduate of the New Jersey Institute of Technology with a dual degree in electrical engineering and computer science, Manny has over twenty-years' experience in this important operating domain and has been responsible for building a highly competent IT team within the management company.

Philip Clancey has assumed the role of Chief Actuary and Risk Officer (CARO).In this capacity Phil is responsible for the risk management dimensions of operating the American Club and its associated enterprises.

Phil joined the Managers in 2016 as Senior Actuary & Risk Manager. He brought with him over twenty-years of varied insurance and financial experience, having served in actuarial, risk management, treasury and compliance roles at global insurance and banking institutions. He is an Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society (ACAS) and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA). He is also the American Club's appointed actuary for purposes of presenting its statement of actuarial opinion from year to year.

Members, brokers and the Club's many other friends will no doubt wish to join the Managers in congratulating Dorothea, Arpad, Manny and Phil on their new roles. These promotions, in addition to recognizing the individual contributions of the persons to whom they have been given, are also designed to strengthen the capabilities of the Club's senior management team in embracing the challenges of the future.

As ever, your Managers - encouraged in these new initiatives by your Board - remain at Members' disposal in explaining any of the foregoing, representing, as it does, the intention to provide an unsurpassed continuity of service excellence over the months and years ahead.

A strategic partnership between the three companies aiming to provide superior management ship operation

METIS Cyberspace Technology has formed a strategic partnership with the ACOEM Group and REA Hellas in order to develop an Condition Based Monitoring, innovative service, which will transform the management of shipping fleets. The finalisation of this significant collaboration between the three companies took place during Posidonia exhibition held in June, in Athens.

The new service will incorporate the valuable know-how of the three companies, offering shipping companies on a global level an innovative application which will be able to detect problems aboard each ship much faster than any other method and of course before these problems turn into major issues. 

Vibration analysis is a method of examining the proper functioning and condition of vessels' rotary steering gear systems. A major advantage is that vibration analysis can identify developing problems, earlier than any other technique, and of course, before they become too serious to cause unscheduled downtime. Condition based maintenance involves the use of advanced diagnostic tools and technologies for the assessment of the state of equipment, with a goal of zero stoppages in a ship’s operation. Mechanical and operating conditions are continuously monitored, and when existing data point to a malfunction, the troublesome parts in the machine are identified and scheduled for maintenance. The machine would then be shut down at a convenient time and the damaged components would be replaced.

The competitive advantages of the application include the safe and reliable operation of each ship, optimized scheduling of maintenance issues and Optimized maintenance costs, a reduction in the rate of human error, an increase of machine lifetime, a reduction in power consumption, and a reduction in insurance expenses.

Mike Konstantinidis, CEO of METIS Cyberspace Technology, stated: "At METIS we are particularly pleased about our cooperation with the ACOEM Group and REA Hellas - a partnership that is bound to have an impact on the international shipping scene. The new application we are designing will result in extraordinary benefits for the industry and provide added value for all our clients."

Within the framework of the cooperation, Christian Freneat, International Head of Sales at ONEPROD, a company that is part of the ACOEM Group, stated: "Optimising the management of a ship is inextricably linked with real-time solutions and smart monitoring. At ACOEM, we are very pleased to be proceeding with the collaboration with METIS and REA Hellas, with the aim of ushering in a new era in digital shipping."

"Bearing in mind the technological excellence and momentum of the three companies, it is certain that the collaboration between METIS, ACOEM, and REA Hellas will result in great benefits for the shipping companies that put their trust in them," says Vasilis Krithis, CEO of REA Hellas.

 

 

About METIS Cyberspace Technology SA

METIS CYBERSPACE TECHNOLOGY SA was founded in 2016 by a group of seven scientists and engineers with a high level of education, extensive experience in the shipping industry and a significant amount of research work behind them. The company offers expertise in the fields of electronic engineering, Internet of things, Cloud Computing and Artificial Intelligence, so as to meet the needs of International Shipping. METIS, in which Olympia holds an 80\% stake, is one of the Olympia Group's most recent investments in the Greek market.

About REA Hellas

REA Hellas S.A. was founded in 1988 and represents and promotes the products of the NSK group. REA has strengthened its portfolio with important products from the world market, such as ACOEM, Garlock, CPI-LIARD, Brugarolas, Simatec, Graco, TM, Korloy, GGB, SDT, and more. REA has considerable expertise in the field of Condition Monitoring and provides a comprehensive solution based on Vibration Analysis and other similar technologies, such as Infrared Thermal Imaging Survey and Ultrasound Analysis.

Singapore has emerged as the world's top maritime center for the fourth consecutive time in the Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Center Development Index.

"Singapore remains unmoved at the top of the International Shipping Centre Development (ISCD) Index for the fifth successive year, following a benchmark report published today (10 July 2018) by the Baltic Exchange and Xinhua, China’s news agency," said a press release.

The index covers 43 of the world’s largest ports and cities and is designed to bring clarity to investors and governments on the relative performance of shipping centres around the world.

The Asia-Pacific region now makes up 50\% of the top 10, with three of those centres making up the top four. Singapore maintains its leading position for the fifth consecutive year due to the strategic opportunities brought about by the “Belt and Road” initiative. Hong Kong overtook London – for the first time in five years – to take second place, although London is still assessed to be the top professional maritime services location.

Shanghai moved up to fourth place thanks to its rapidly developing modern shipping logistics and shipping services systems, in addition to the coordinated development of its regional shipping counterparts. Tokyo held ninth position, while Busan returned to the top ten, replacing Athens, by virtue of its strategy of vigorously developing its transhipment ports.

The impact of the overall weak economy in the European region meant London’s overall development was behind that of Hong Kong, while Hamburg dropped to seventh. Better news in the European region came from Rotterdam who jumped two places to sixth in the overall rankings due to improved operating efficiency, with new technology applications such as the internet of things, big data, and artificial intelligence, as well as smart port construction.

Commenting on the report’s findings, Baltic Exchange CEO, Mark Jackson, said: “This report underlines the constant competition and innovation taking place in cities around the world to attract maritime related businesses. Location is an important ingredient for success in the shipping industry and plays an important part in meeting the latest challenges. The right location gives companies access to clients, the best employees and is a platform for long-term business success.”

Elsewhere, Dubai maintained fifth in the rankings, driven by its innovative free-trade zone and improvement in trade environment, while New York dropped from seventh to eighth.

The report also provides a supplementary ranking, grading cities based solely on the breadth and depth of their maritime services sector, covering shipbroking, engineering, shipping business, legal, shipping finance service and ship repair services.

2018 shows the top ten port cities with the best professional shipping services are, by order of ranking: London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Dubai, Athens, Hamburg, New York-New Jersey, Tokyo, and Houston. Of these, London, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai have been occupying the top four places for four consecutive years. Houston’s shipping services have gained significant momentum in development and attained a top ten place for the first time in five years.

www.maritimeprofessional.com

 

July 10, 2018, Athens, Greece. DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ:DRYS) (“DryShips” or the “Company”), a diversified owner and operator of ocean going cargo vessels, today announced the following:

 - The entry into agreements with unaffiliated buyers for the sale of its two oldest 2000-built Panamax drybulk carriers. The vessels are scheduled for delivery to their buyers during the third quarter of
   2018.

- The entry into agreements with unaffiliated buyers for the sale of its four Very Large Gas Carriers (“VLGCs”), including the existing time charter contracts for each VLGC. The sale remains subject
   to charterers’ consent, which is not to be unreasonably withheld. The VLGCs are scheduled for delivery to their buyers during the third quarter of 2018.

- The entry into an index linked time charter for the Company’s recently acquired Newcastlemax bulk carrier with an entity that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by Mr. George Economou, the
   Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Under the charter, the Company can give 60- days advance termination notice and can then seek alternative or fixed rate employment.

If all vessel sales announced to date materialize, the Company expects to realize an aggregate gain on vessels sales compared to the book value of these assets.

About DryShips Inc.
The Company is a diversified owner and operator of ocean going cargo vessels that operate worldwide.
As of July 10, 2018, and not giving effect to any pending vessel transactions, the Company operates a fleet of 36 vessels comprising of (i) 11 Panamax drybulk vessels; (ii) 5 Newcastlemax drybulk vessels;
(iii) 5 Kamsarmax drybulk vessels; (iv) 1 Very Large Crude Carrier; (v) 2 Aframax tankers; (vi) 2 Suezmax tanker; (vii) 4 Very Large Gas Carriers; and (viii) 6 Offshore Support Vessels, including 2
Platform Supply and 4 Oil Spill Recovery Vessels.

DryShips’ common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market where it trades under the symbol “DRYS.”
www.dryships.com

American Hellenic Hull Insurance Company has been featured in The Times, the long-established UK daily newspaper.

In a Greece special report published on June 26, 2018, The Times identified insurance as a sector offering opportunities after the Greek economic crisis. It also noted that marine insurance is “a big player”, supported by the country’s shipping industry, which is “a global force” in the maritime business.

Highlighting American Hellenic Hull’s impressive year-on-year growth, The Times report interviewed company chief executive Ilias Tsakiris. Here is Mr Tsakiris’ full statement:

“The insurance company American Hellenic Hull had its best month in April, insuring 2,200 vessels – up 43 per cent on the year. Its chief executive Ilias Tsakiris says the backing of US entrepreneurs, along with the company’s Greek heritage, is helping it succeed, ‘’plus the fact that in this part of the world there are no real marine underwriters.’’

‘‘New growth will be coming from Europe and the US, and the Far East is a massive market of course – we have offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong. However, the insurance market there is very strong. To penetrate this market you have to have a strong track record and show you can serve the people well.’’

 

- Shares in world’s biggest shipping firm are down 30\% this year - Analysts say Maersk share price hasn’t reached the bottom yet

A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S may struggle to make a profit this year after the U.S. and China descended into a trade war that promises to hurt the world’s biggest shipping company.

Maersk, which is based in Copenhagen, has already lost almost a third of its market value this year as investors gird for more bad news. Trade protectionism means less demand, and history suggests the shipping industry will struggle to make the necessary supply cuts. What’s more, Maersk is now more exposed to shipping as the former conglomerate divests its energy business.
 
Per Hansen, an investment economist at Nordnet in Copenhagen, says Maersk is currently “in the eye of the hurricane” when it comes to the damage that will be inflicted by a trade war. He estimates the company’s shares could drop at least 10 percent.

Maersk is already bracing itself for lackluster demand in the second half of the year, due to what it says are seasonal effects. The company said earlier in the week it will need to temporarily scale back its service between Asia and North Europe as a result.

“It’s highly likely that Maersk’s valuations could sink to its trough valuations in the coming months as investors avoid shipping stocks until more excess capacity is being removed,” said Corrine Png, chief executive officer and founder of Crucial Perspective, a Singapore-based research provider focusing on transport.

She says that, given all the moving parts, it will be “harder for Maersk to pass on the higher bunker fuel costs effectively compared to last year, raising the risk that Maersk can only be marginally profitable, at best, or even turn loss-making for the full financial year.”

“Maersk is the second-largest carrier in the Far East-North America trade lane, with 15 percent market share, so falling China exports to the U.S. due to tariffs will hurt Maersk’s financial results going forward,” Png said.

A number of analysts have cut their outlook on Maersk recently. Kepler Cheuvreux lowered its share price target by 9 percent last week to 12,000 kroner. Jefferies reduced its price target by 12 percent to 11,500 kroner. Even so, of the 28 analysts covering Maersk, only one is recommending that clients sell the stock. The rest advise either buying or holding on to Maersk shares, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

source:www.bloomberg.com

 

and Charter Agreements for Five Newbuild Containerships and the Acquisition and Chartering of Two Secondhand Containerships

MONACO - July 9, 2018 – Costamare Inc. (the “Company”) (NYSE: CMRE) announced today the conclusion of shipbuilding contracts and long term charter agreements for five newbuild containerships, as well as the acquisition and chartering of two secondhand containerships.

Ordering and Chartering of Five 12,690 TEU Newbuild Containerships The Company has ordered five newbuild containerships from Jiangsu Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group, each of approximately 12,690 TEU capacity. The vessels are expected to be delivered between the second quarter of 2020 and the second quarter of 2021 and upon delivery they will commence a ten-year time charter to Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp.

The acquisition is expected to be financed with cash on hand and debt. Acquisition and Chartering of Two Wide-Beam 5,000 TEU Secondhand Containerships In June 2018, the Company agreed to purchase two 2013-built, 5,000 TEU wide-beam containerships, the c/v Megalopolis and the c/v Marathopolis. Both vessels are expected to be delivered by September 2018 at the latest. Upon their delivery, the vessels will be chartered to Maersk Line for a period of seven years.

The acquisitions are expected to be initially financed with cash on hand. The Company is in advanced discussions with a leading European financial institution regarding the financing of the vessels.
Management Commentary Gregory Zikos, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, said: “We are pleased to expand our valued relationship with Yang Ming through the completion of our latest
newbuilding transaction. At the same time, we are renewing our fleet with modern secondhand vessels backed by seven year charters to Maersk Line. In aggregate, these new transactions provide us with additional contracted revenues of approximately US $650 million and further extend our contract coverage to approximately 4 years.”

About Costamare Inc.
Costamare Inc. is one of the world’s leading owners and providers of containerships for charter. Costamare Inc. has 44 years of history in the international shipping industry and a fleet of 80 containerships, with a total capacity of approximately 542,000 TEU, including five newbuild containerships on order and two containerships expected to be delivered by September 2018. Eighteen of our containerships have been acquired pursuant to the Framework Deed with York Capital Management by vessel-owning joint venture entities in which we hold a minority equity interest. The
Company’s common stock, Series B Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series D Preferred Stock and Series E Preferred Stock trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols “CMRE”, “CMRE PR B”, “CMRE PR C”, “CMRE PR D” and “CMRE PR E”, respectively.

From the 10th to the 11th April 2019, the doors open for the first time at the Øksne Hall for the new Copenhagen Shipping Summit, a new conference and fair concept launched by the companies MARPRO and Copenhagen Exhibition Group.

The concept has been designed with the purpose of creating a new dynamic meeting platform for the international shipping business. The choice of venue is the historic and atmospheric Øksne Hall, partly because the 5,000 m2 venue is in down-town Copenhagen, and partly because the Danish capital has the perfect profile for an international event in this class.

The background for the event is according to CEO, Jakob le Fevre from MARPRO: "Denmark is a shipping nation. The maritime sector is responsible for 25\% of Denmark’s exports and contributes with more than 100,000 jobs. Most business these days are performed in front of a PC and the need for events where people can meet and exchange ideas and grow relations are bigger than ever. “

Jakob le Fevre has an educated as master mariner with 5 years of sailing experience in the Danish merchant navy and the Royal Danish Navy. In 2001 he went ashore, and until 2010 he had several executive jobs in the maritime industry. In 2010 he became co-owner of the job portal JOB2SEA. In 2013 he established the company MARPRO, a professional consultancy house with 100 \% focus on the maritime industry.

CEO, Jesper Åndahl from the Copenhagen Exhibition Group says: "I am looking forward to the exciting new event, and I feel that Jakob and I complement each other very well. Jakob has a thorough knowledge of the maritime industry; and I think I can contribute positively with my many years of trade fair experience. For more than 20 years I worked in Bella Center, (Denmark’s biggest exhibition center); and for the last 11 years I was Director for all the trade fairs and conference activities in the company.

Jesper Åndahl has an MBA in sales and marketing, and he established the Copenhagen Exhibition Group in 2012. Since then, there have been many successful events, including: a trade fair for the Nordic laboratory industry called LabDays. A concept that started in Copenhagen, but now also takes place in both Aarhus and Stockholm, Sweden.

www.shipping-summit.com

 

On June 22nd 2018 the External Expert Advisory Committee (EEAC) held its opening meeting at the Piraeus Marine Club.

The event was marked by the attendance of top Professionals representing key Organizations from the maritime and gas industry.  Participants’ list included the Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), the European Community Shipowners Association (ECSA), the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS), the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping (NEE), the Hellenic Institute of Marine Technology (ELINT), the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers and the Hellenic Ports Association (ELIME). The National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) were also represented.

The event was officially opened by the Project Manager of Poseidon Med II, Mr. G. Polychroniou. Following some brief introductions by the participants, each Poseidon Med II Activity Leaderr presented an insight of their respective Activity work and progress made so far.

A fruitful debate concluded the event, whereby issues concerning Simultaneous Operations at Portsand their links with the Regulatory Framework were vividly discussed. Some key interventions in the meeting’s works referred to the issue of proximity of LNG infrastructure to densely populated coastal areas, as well as the challenge of accommodating LNG bunkering operations in areas thriving with touristic activity, as in the case of the Port of Venice.

Notable was also the discussion evolved on the future use of LNG as marine fuel for deep sea shipping. Prominent figures of the shipping community advocated the option for LNG in certain trading patterns and emission control areas; yet expressed their concerns on the wider adoption of LNG as marine fuel, linked to safety and supply infrastructure  inadequacies.

 

What is Poseidon Med II project?

Poseidon Med II project is a practical roadmap which aims to bring about the wide adoption of LNG as a safe, environmentally efficient and viable alternative fuel for shipping and help the East Mediterranean marine transportation propel towards a low-carbon future. The project, which is co-funded by the European Union, involves three countries Greece, Italy and Cyprus, six European ports (Piraeus, Patras, Lemesos, Venice, Heraklion, Igoumenitsa) as well as the Revithoussa LNG terminal. The project brings together top experts from the marine, energy and financial sectors to design an integrated LNG value chain and establish a well-functioning and sustainable LNG market.

Mr Wim Groenendijk, President at Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) presenting

Snapshot from the EEAC Members & Partners, Poseidon Med II event at Piraeus Marine Club

A fruitful and productive Jean Monnet Symposium on “The future of the Future of the European Port Policy” took place on the island of Chios during the 28th and 29th of June 2018.

A fruitful and productive Jean Monnet Symposium on “The future of the Future of the European Port Policy” took place on the island of Chios during the 28th and 29th of June 2018.

The Symposium was scientifically coordinated by PorteEconomics.eu and organised by the Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport of University of the Aegean – and PortEconomics will soon make available all Conference presentations.

Inaugurated by the Mayor of Chios, the Symposium was attended by more than 110 participants, representing port authorities, port related associations, port users, European Institutions as well as the academic community.

Dr Christos Lambridis, Secretary General of Ports, Port Policy and Shipping Investments of the Greek Ministry of Shipping and Insular Policy highlighted the initiatives undertaken by the Greek State aiming at enabling the European port policy framework to increase the competitiveness of the Greek ports. During his intervention Dr. Lambridis also mentioned that the port privatization model followed in the case of the two major Greek ports (i.e. selling of the port authorities of the ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki) will not be applied for the rest of the 10 Greek ports operating as Société Anonymes, as the concession of port activities will be the preferable liberalization model from now.

During the first day of the Symposium, senior officials from the European Port Industry and port related associations and institutional bodies, expressed their views on the challenges and the prospects of the port industry.

Day 1

During the first day of the Symposium, senior officials from the European Port Industry and port related associations and institutional bodies, expressed their views on the challenges and the prospects of the port industry.

During a session chaired by PortEconomics co-director Theo Notteboom, the Deputy Managing Director of DG MOVE (European Commission) Mr. Matthew Baldwin stressed the importance of clarity and transparency during the implementation of the EU port services regulation, as well as on the role of ports as agents of economic change.

Mr. Baldwin emphasised the importance of decarbonising transport, as well as the need of Europe to go further in defining envirnomental standards in transportation,  concluding on the importance of EU initiatives, such as the “European Maritime Single Window”, in facilitating the introduction of digitalization in the European port industries.

The new role of the Port Authorities was the subject of the presentation of Mrs Isabelle Ryckbost, Secretary General of European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO),who stressed the importance for ports to decide whether they will remain as passive directors or expand ‘like an octopus’ and be involved in the different activities taking place in ports.

Ports are transformed to complex and multifaceted organizations, with their activities going well beyond the port limits. Towards this direction the need for developing strategies for the formation of the most suitable port governance schemes was among the issues raised by Mrs Lamia Kerdjoudj Belkaid, Secretary General of the Federation of European Private Port Companies and Terminals (FEPORT). Mrs Belkaid also stressed that the attractiveness of any applied port governance model is strongly related with its ability to attract private investments and she added that the formation of a level playing field is a prerequisite for any institutional (policy) intervention in the port industry.

The significant role of port labour and the need for additional training and certification, especially in the context of increasing automation and digitalization in port operations, were the central issues risen by Mrs Livia Spera, representative of the European Transport Workers Federation (ETF).

Day 2

The second session of the day, chaired by PortEconomics member Michael Dooms, started with Olaf Mark, from ITF/OECD, offered his perspectives on the future of the EPP, stressing among others the importance of environmental perspectives in pricing mechanisms at ports as well as of differentiated charging mechanisms. The presentations of two of the major seaports in Europe, Rotterdam and Hamburg followed. Representing Hamburg Port Authority, Dr Kai-Dieter Classen, presented the four major challenges that contemporary ports must face and includes: a) the application of the EU regulation on the liberalization of the port services market, b) the actual role of ports in relation to the environmental impacts, c) the digitalization of port processes and services and d) the changes in the international trade in relation with the geopolitical developments. Mr Victor Schoenmakers, Director of Business Strategy of the Rotterdam Port Authority, also mentioned digitalization as a major challenge that contemporary ports must tackle, while he also added two more challenges, these being the adaptation of ports in the alternative energy sources (alterative fuels) that port and shipping industry are facing, and the achievement of sustainable development. Going beyond EU ports, the President of the Turkish Ports Association (Turklim) Mr Ibrahim Dolen, presented the investments that are taking place in the Turkish ports from International Terminal Operators, along with his concerns regarding the limited abilities of local players to stay active in the port market.

A third session was devoted to the environmental aspects of port operations, where the representative of the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), Mr Antonis Michail, presented the World Ports Sustainability Program, which is an initiative undertaken by major ports worldwide as a response to the increasing environmental awareness of the port industry as well as to the environmental challenges that ports will face in the future.

The port-city relations and the social perceptions on the importance of ports was the core theme of the presentation delivered by Mrs Greta Marini, representative of The Worldwide Network of Port Cities (AIVP), who also focuses on the ‘Next Generation’ initiative of AIVP. The session, chaired by PortEconomics member Francesco Parola, concluded with Mrs Christina Kontaxi, Managing Director of the Mediterranean SOS Network, detailing a program aiming to prevent further sea pollution by minimising the use of plastics at ports.

A highlight of first day was the awarding of the Jean Monnet Award to Mr Dimitrios Theologitis, the ex-Director for Ports and Inland navigation of DG MOVE who retired from his post in 2017, for his passionate contribution the advancement of the European Port Policy.

The second day of the Symposium included two sessions with stakeholders discussing Greek port industries perspectives and the potential of cruise ports respectively.

During the first session Mr. Jason Angelopoulos, President of the Greek Regulatory Authority for Ports, presented the role of the Regulatory Authority as well as the Authority’s relation with the goals of the European Port Policy. Following that, Mrs Christina Baboulaki, representing the Piraeus Port Authority S.A. analysed the investment strategy of the port authority. Mr Sotirios Theofanis, President and C.E.O. of Thessaloniki Port Authority S.A.,presented the investment plans of the new owner of the second largest port of Greece. The session ended with interventions by Mr Dimitrios Lemonakis, representative of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Mr Kyriakos Loufakis, representative of the Greek International Business Association who discussed on the importance of ports for the economic development in local and national level.

The last session was dedicated to cruise ports where PortEconomics member George Vaggelas presented the results of a study developed jointly with Thanos Pallis for the think-tank “diaNeosis” dealing the prospects of sustainable cruise ports developments. This was followed by a discussion on the European and the Greek cruise port markets with the participation of Mr. Theodoros Kontes, President of the Union of Cruise Ship Owners and Associated Members (Greece), Mr. Aris Batsoulis, Senior Vice-President of MedCruise and representative of Corfu Port Authority S.A. and Ms Laura Cimaglia, Vice-president of MedCruise, and representative of the Port Network Authority of the Southern Adriatic Sea.

The 2-day of the Symposium also hosted the presentation of 30 scientific papers dealing with the port industry and presented by scholars and researchers from all over Europe. 

As PortEconomics co-director, and Conference Chair, Thanos Pallis stressed:  “The adoption of the Port Services Regulation in 2017 marked the conclusion of this lengthy discussion on the organization of port services provision and the progressive expansion of the related policy agenda. Today, this agenda also includes the implementation of the General Block Exemption Regulation; the utilization of ports as hubs for blue growth; the enhancement of the market; potential of ports; the development offinancial opportunities for the port sector; and the sharing of good practices from the sector. The on-going social dialogue might also have implication on working and employment conditions in European ports.  New terms have been also introduced in the vocabulary of both the industry and policy-makers: ‘digitalisation’, big data, automatisation, blockchains, Internet of things.  The Symposium provided an excellent opportunity to prioritise issues, discuss the content of potential initiatives and not least to identify the challenges towards further enhancement of European ports competitiveness".

PortEconomics will soon make available all Conference presentations - stay tuned.

http://www.porteconomics.eu