About Metropolitan College | Maritime Academy -

Dimitris Vasalakis

Dimitris Vasalakis is the HR Director of Danaos Shipping. He holds an International MBA, an Msc in Human Resources Management from Athens University of Business and Economics. He has more than 17 years of experience in Human Resources Management, being exposed to all HR functions such as Talent Acquisition & Development, Career Management, Performance Management, Rewards Management etc. For the last 10 years, he holds managerial HR roles in various industries such as Maritime and Technology having under responsibility employees from several countries.

Capt. Panagiotis Nikiteas

Captain Panagiotis Nikiteas is a maritime professional with 35 years’ experience span in various sectors of the maritime industry including management, marine, vetting, operations, crewing, safety, quality, environmental, energy, security, health, auditing, surveying, incident investigation and training. He had been stationed and worked for a major Classification Society and highly reputable owners/managers abroad in Manila, Dubai and Singapore and appreciated the benefits of multi-cultural working environment. He is holding Master’s Degree in Adult Education, Master’s degree in International Shipping with distinction, Post Graduate Diploma in International Shipping and Transport Management and is a graduate from Hydra Merchant Marine Academy with distinction. Currently, he is a PhD candidate with EUC.

Panagiotis (Panos) is the HSQE Manager / DPA / CSO of Maran Dry Management Inc. (www.marandry.com)

Danae Bezantakou

Danae Bezantakou holds the positions of CEO of Navigator Shipping Consultants and shareholder of KEFI S.A. & MATILDA HOTEL in Zakynthos Island. One of her biggest accomplishments is the organization of NAVIGATOR – THE SHIPPING DECISION MAKERS FORUM https://navigatorltd.gr/forums/ which is the oldest Greek Shipping Forum, enhancing the open dialogue among the stakeholders of the Greek and International Maritime Clusters annually since 2001.

She is the Concept Founder of Young Executives Shipping (YES) FORUM – the platform of open dialogue among principals, executives and university students, recent graduates and young executives in Shipping and Sea Tourism Sectors. She also serves as Secretary General of International Propeller Club (Port of Piraeus) and President of iforU-Greek Mentoring Network, which empowers small and medium women entrepreneurs through mentoring & networking & chairs the education committee of ICC Women in Greece.

Danae was appointed as European Young Leader in 2013 and as Young Global Leader at World Economic Forum in 2015.

Danae represented Greece twice in International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of State Dpt. in 2011 and in 2017. She is founding member and President of the Hellenic U.S. Alumni Association of State Department Programs. Her dedication to the growth of Entrepreneurship made her to be named as a Role Model in the campaign #Makingithappen organized by the U.S. Embassy to Greece. Recently she was chosen among 225,000 alumni of State Dept. as one of the 80 #FacesofExchange initiative highlighting 80 years of the IVLP and the impact of her work on the global community.

She regularly participates as a speaker, judge or mentor in startup competitions, Shipping fora, school and university lectures and events related to entrepreneurship.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality and Tourism Management from the University of Surrey. She has a 14 year old daughter.

Dr. Panagiotis Sotiropoulos

Dr. Panagiotis Sotiropoulos studied Psychology at the American College of Greece (Deree College), continued his postgraduate studies in the Strategic Human Resources Management at the Athens Laboratory of Business Administration (ALBA Graduate Business School) and completed an Executive PhD in Business Administration at the University of Glasgow. From a very young age, he managed his family businesses and has approximately 20 years of professional experience in managing private companies’ strategic resources. He has also worked and continuous to work as an executive, consultant and trainer for international and multinational organizations. He is married and has three children.

Andreas Andrianopoulos

Andreas Andrianopoulos

Capt. Panagiotis Drosos

Capt. Panagiotis Drosos

Capt. Panagiotis Drosos is currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer at Capital Ship Management Corp. since October 2018. Between 2013 – 2018 Capt. Drosos joined Tsakos Columbia Shipmanagement (“TCM”) as Managing Director, leading technical management projects. Between 2008-2013,Capt. Drosos served as Chief Executive Officer at Almi Tankers, successfully initiating and establishing the company’s activities in tanker technical and commercial operations.

His original operational expertise was cultivated through serving both onboard several vessels and acquiring positions ashore at Tsakos Shipping and Trading SA. between 2004 – 2008 Capt. Panagiotis Drosos graduated from the Greek Merchant Academy of Aspropyrgos in 1997. Combining diligence with a unique philosophical stance, he has collaborated with a number of prestigious Shipping Companies serving as CEO & Managing Director while focusing on projects concentrated on the human element. In concurrence with inspiration derived from sea experience onboard tanker vessels, his extensive experience in shore management has contributed significantly to a growth mindset concerning technical management issues.

Dr. John Kokarakis

Dr. John Kokarakis

John Kokarakis is a graduate in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering from National Technical University of Athens (1979). He also holds graduate degrees from the University of Michigan (MSE Marine Engineering 83, MSE Mechanical Engineering 84 and PhD Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering86).

He worked in various projects worldwide as a consultant/technical investigator of maritime accidents. The most notorious were the explosion of Space Shuttle Challenger, the grounding of Exxon Valdez, the explosion and fire of Piper Alpha, the capsize of drillship Sea-Crest and others. Furthermore, he was a consultant for numerous aspects on containership design, operation and repair. He has extensive experience in ship design and operations, spanning over forty five years.

He is currently working at Bureau Veritas in charge of technical development and troubleshooting. He focuses on the implementation of the “green” regulations, fuel saving techniques, energy efficiency, speed and hydrodynamic optimization, resistance and propulsion, performance monitoring, ship design, machinery and safety, education and training, asset integrity management and alternative fuels.

Professor Dinos Arcoumanis

Professor Dinos Arcoumanis

Professor Arcoumanis’ academic career includes appointments as Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London, Dean of Engineering & Mathematics and later Vice-President at City, University of London, as well as Honorary/Visiting Professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong, Tianjin and Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in China and at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University of Russia. Professor Arcoumanis is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the UK Institute of Directors as well as a former Ambassador-at-large of the Hellenic Republic for Energy Policy and New Technologies. Over the last few years he has also acted as Director and Member of the Board of the Angelicoussis Shipping Group and is presently Chairman of the Academic Board of the Metropolitan College of Greece.

Lars Lippuner MSC MBA MNI

Lars holds an MSc (Physics), an Executive MBA and a UK MCA Deck Certificate of Competency. His professional career stretches across the telecommunications industry, followed by a career at sea and various shore-based roles in the maritime industry. Highlights at sea include being in charge of an expedition to the arctic and crossing 80°North. Lars joined the senior management of Warsash Maritime Academy in 2012. During this time, he set up the Warsash Superyacht Academy, was heading up the commercial operations, the maritime simulation centre, and the manned model ship handling lake. In August 2020 he took on the role of director of the Warsash Maritime School, which is part of Solent University and incorporates world-renowned education for seafarers as well as academic programmes for shore-based roles in shipping. Lars is the chair of the International Association of Maritime Institutions. He regularly advises government agencies and maritime regulatory bodies in educational matters and is passionate about enabling students from all walks of life to pursue a fulfilling and successful maritime career.

Antonis Vidalis

Antonis Vidalis

Vice Admiral HCG (ret) Antonis Vidalis is the Head of Cabinet of the Minister for Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy of Greece. A graduate from the Law School of the University of Athens, as well as of the Hellenic Naval Academy, Vice Admiral Vidalis started quite early his career at the Hellenic Coast Guard, serving successively at the Coast Guard Stations of Patras & Chios. In 1993, he was appointed as Harbor Master of Ithaca, and in 1995 moved to the Coast Guard Station of Rafina, as Head of the Maritime Environment, Safety and Marine Environment Protection Offices. In 1998, Vice Admiral Vidalis decided to continue his studies at a postgraduate level, and graduated with a LL.M. in Maritime Law from the University of Southampton, UK, where he studied with scholarship from the Eugenides Foundation.

He, then, returned to Greece and joined the Ministry of Mercantile Marine, where he initially served in the Maritime Affairs Division, and then in the Department of Maritime Policy and Development. In 2005 he was appointed as National Expert on Maritime Affairs in the European Commission. On his return after a three-year term, he was appointed as Acting Head of Shipping Policy & Development Directorate in the Ministry of Mercantile Marine. Next, he was appointed, among others, as Director for Planning, Organization and Legal Affairs Directorate of the Hellenic Coast Guard Command, where he stayed for a three years period. With his promotion as Commodore of the Hellenic Coast Guard, he was appointed as Head of the Advisory Office of the Commander of the Hellenic Coast Guard, while after his further promotion to Rear Admiral he was entrusted with the post of the Inspector General of the Hellenic Coast Guard, until his retirement in 2017. Prior to his appointment as Head of Cabinet of the Minister for Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy in July 2019, he supported the launching of Metropolitan College Maritime Academy and served as its Head for its first academic year of operation.

George Tsavliris

George Tsavliris

Mr. George A. Tsavliris was born in London. He graduated from Athens College in 1968 and having acquired professional qualifications in Shipping (F.I.C.S., ACI.Arb), he concluded his graduate and post graduate studies in Shipping Law at University College London in 1973, with an L.L.M. degree. In 2009 he was qualified as a Mediator at the ADR Group London and in 2014 was certified as a Mediator by the Greek Ministry of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights.

He familiarized himself with the shipping and salvage sectors from a very early age by being engaged in the family business. George is a Principal at “Tsavliris Salvage Group” and represents the business on both a commercial and environmental basis internationally. He holds the position of Past Chairman of INTERMEPA (International Marine Environment Protection Association), Chairman of CYMEPA (Cyprus Marine Environmental Protection Association), which received the “Cyprus Maritime Prize 2007”, as well as member of the Board of Directors of Cyprus Union of Shipowners, Board Member of ECSA (European Community Shipowners’ Associations), Board Member of The Yacht Club of Greece, Board Member of Friends of Hellas Liberty Association and the Jubilee Sailing Trust in the UK and Honorary Chairman of the Tsavliris Cultural Foundation. Furthermore, Mr. George Tsavliris is Member of the Academic Board of Metropolitan College / Solent Southampton University. Mr George Tsavliris was awarded the 2016 Capital Link Greek Shipping Leadership Award, in recognition of his unique and extensive contribution to Shipping and Greece and for his overall outstanding service to the shipping industry made by him individually, as a family and by his company as a Group. In Jan 2019, Mr Tsavliris received the Cyprus Environmental Award on behalf of CYMEPA by the President of the Cypriot Republic Mr Nikos Anastasiades and on March 12th, 2019, Mr Tsavliris was recognized with the Safety4Sea Leadership Award 2019 for his work with CYMEPA and other national & international organizations, toward the protection of the marine environment. On July 1st, 2019, Mr Tsavliris was appointed NonExecutive Chairman of OneGlobal Broking, Greece & Cyprus. In Dec. 2019, Mr Tsavliris published the book, which he co-wrote with Alba University Professor, Paul Emmanuelides, Winning Shipping Strategies: Theory and Evidence from Leading Shipowners. The book was translated into the Greek language and published in March 2021.

George is a frequent keynote speaker and panelist at numerous maritime related conferences. He is an avid supporter of various charities, an art and music enthusiast and has completed ten London marathons. He is a father of six children

Panos Kourkountis

Panos Kourkountis

Panos Kourkountis studied Naval Architecture and Mechanical Engineering in the National Technical University of Athens. From 1994 until 2018 he worked in Andriaki Shipping Co. Ltd, as Superintendent, Site Manager of new building projects in Korea and Japan, Technical Manager and Technical Director. In January 2018 he joined G. Procopiou Group of companies as Technical Director of Sea Traders SA.

He is a member of the Hellenic Technical Chamber (TEE), Technical Committee of Union Greek Shipowners, ABS Marine Technical Committee, Lloyd’s Register Hellenic Technical Committee, DNV Greek Technical Committee, RINA Technical Committee, BV Technical Committee, Technical committee of Intercargo, Marine Technical Managers Association, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers SNAME, Naval Architects Association of Greece, Mechanical Engineers’ Association of Greece, Hellenic Institute of Marine Technology (ELINT).

George D. Gourdomichalis

George D. Gourdomichalis

George D. Gourdomichalis was born in 1967 in London. He attended Athens College and went on to graduate from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a BA in International Economics and a BA in Political Science. He further earned an MSc in Ocean Marine Transportation Management from the State University of New York Maritime College. In 1989 he joined Republic National Bank of New York as a management trainee and worked on their trading floor. In 1992 he joined S.S. Maritime Inc. of New York, where he worked as a chartering and S&P broker and was also responsible for commercial management of Baltmed Shipping Co. In 1996 he returned to Greece and co-founded Gourdomichalis Naftiki Eteria S.A., in 2000 he co-founded Free Ships S.A. and in 2003 he co-founded Free Bulkers S.A. These activities were consolidated and in 2005 were successfully merged resulting in the public listing of FreeSeas Inc. on the NASDAQ Exchange. This shareholding was sold in January 2007 whereupon he co-founded G. Bros Maritime S.A. and G. Lines S.A.; in 2012 he co-founded Phoenix Shipping & Trading S.A. and Blue Wall Shipping Limited. George is Chairman of The American P&I Club, a member of the Board of Director of the Piraeus Marine Club where he also served two terms as President, he serves on the RINA Hellenic Committee and has served on the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping and the North American Merchant Ministries Advisory Committee. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers where he has also been a guest Lecturer and is a member of The Baltic Exchange and the British Hellenic Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Constantinos Filis

Dr. Constantinos Filis

Director at the Institute of Global Affairs & Associate Professor at the American College of Greece. President of the Foundation for Thracean Art and Tradition and member of Advisory Committee of the Institute of International Relations, Panteion University.

Expert representative of Greece at the The European Centre of Excellence for

Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE).

Associate Academic Researcher, Centre for Foreign Policy Planning (KESEP), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hellenic Republic

Energy and Geoeconomics Advisor to the Hellenic Association of Entrepreneurs (2018-present). Member of the Greek-Turkish Forum (2013-present). Corresponding Member of the Institute of Energy for South-East Europe (2017-present)

Former Head, Russia, Eurasia and Southeast Europe Centre of the Institute

International Relations, Panteion University (2004-2021).

Former Executive Director and Director of Research at the Institute of International Relations, Panteion University. Former instructor at the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence of the National and Kapodistrian, University of Athens.

Chair of the Greek-Israeli Joint Committee on Energy Prospects of the Eastern Mediterranean (2009-2011).

Collaboration with the office of the Foreign Minister of Greece on the

OSCE Presidency (2008-2009).

His most recent books/monographs are: “Assertive Patriotism”, “Greece in its neighbourhood”, “A Closer Look at Russia and its Influence in the World”, “Turkey, Islam, Erdogan”, and “Refugees, Europe, Insecurity”.

Mr Nick Contopoulos

Mr Nick Contopoulos

Nick Contopoulos BEng, PgD, CEng, MICE, is a Chartered Engineer with over 13 years’ of experience across multi-disciplinary Engineering and Shipping sectors. He is currently a Director and COO at Anemoi and is one of the founding members of the marine technology company. Anemoi have secured great success on their journey so far, by developing innovative real world solutions that are proving to be industry leading. Nick started his career in 2005 working with Victoria Steamship based in London, being exposed to the bulker sector and dry dockings at COSCO shipyard early in his career, helped to quickly develop a deep understanding and enthusiasm for Engineering and the Shipping Industry. He then held Engineering consultancy roles at some of the world’s largest providers of professional technical services, where he developed his skills working on large scale global infrastructure projects. After becoming a Chartered Engineer he returned to the shipping industry with Victoria Steamship, where he was challenged with building a project team to embark on a new technology and innovation venture on behalf of the owners. The ultimate goal of this venture was to deliver a vision through the development of an innovative fuel reduction technology, that harnesses the renewable power of the wind to reduce vessel consumption, and lower harmful emissions in the shipping industry. After the successful technology development phase, Anemoi was incorporated following firm support, and the vision to install Anemoi’s Flettner Rotor Systems on board commercial vessels trading worldwide. Anemoi are now a market leader and are the world’s first company to install Flettner Rotor Systems on board globally trading bulk carriers.

Vassilios Dimoulas

Vassilios Dimoulas

Vassilios Dimoulas is a Naval Architect and Marine Engineer with an experience of over 20 years in providing classification and technical consulting services to the marine and offshore industry. He graduated from the National Technical University of Athens and subsequently obtained a Master’s degree in Marine Engineering from University College London. After internship periods in Hellenic Shipyards and Troodos Shipping, he has worked for ABS Consulting for 8 years. He joined Bureau Veritas in 2005, where he was in charge of the technical consulting services and subsequently of the plan approval department at the Piraeus office, responsible for the Hellenic and Black Sea region.

Throughout his career he has been involved in numerous projects including new construction and major conversion, which he has followed both at design and implementation phases.

His current position at Bureau Veritas is Technology & Innovation Manager, Greece Cyprus & Malta. His task and major focus is on assisting clients to meet the growing challenges posed by new and upcoming regulations, by applying novel and often innovative technologies with which they may not be fully familiar. To achieve this goal he is promoting the available Bureau Veritas services and solutions but also encouraging discussion and exchange of experience between vessel operators, equipment manufacturers and Class. Finally, using the vast pool of competencies and knowledge within Bureau Veritas, he is assisting owners with handling new construction projects and major modifications, especially when these involve ship types and technologies not yet familiar to them.

Mr. Dimitris Patrikios

Dimitris Patrikios

CEO of Kyklades Maritime Corporation

In 2019 he is assigned the position of CEO at Kyklades Maritime Corporation (Alafouzos Group).

From 1988 till end of 2018 he worked in the Shipping sector of the Onassis Group.

He was born and raised in Athens. He is a graduate of Lycee Leonin High School and holds a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Athens, a BSc in Business Administration from the University of Piraeus.
He completed his post-graduate studies in London; he earned a MSc in Management Science from the Imperial College.

Member of INTERTANKO ExCom, DNV GL, BV, NK and KR Greek Committee.

Fellow Member of ICS (Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers) and Vice President of Propeller Club of Piraeus.

Jason Stefanatos

Jason Stefanatos

Jason Stefanatos is a senior Research Engineer in DNV GL R&D and Advisory department in Piraeus Greece. He holds a degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens and his field of expertise includes digital services, Cyber Security, machinery systems and fleet performance assessment, design and operation optimisation, hybrid-electric propulsion systems, and energy efficiency. He has 13 scientific and industrial publications. The past 2 years has been actively involved in many digitalization projects of DNV GL both (research and applications). Currently he is regional responsible for the following lines of services: Cyber Security, Environmental compliance (EU MRV, IMO DCS, CAP 2020, Scrubbers), Performance (performance needs mapping, Vendors selection advise, ECO Insight, energy efficiency).

Vice Admiral Antonis Vidalis

Vice Admiral Antonis Vidalis

Vice Admiral HCG (ret) Antonis Vidalis is the Head of Metropolitan College Maritime Academy. A graduate from the Law School of the University of Athens, as well as of the Hellenic Naval Academy, Vice Admiral Vidalis started quite early his career at the Hellenic Coast Guard, serving successively at the Coast Guard Stations of Patras & Chios. In 1993, he was appointed as Harbor Master of Ithaca, and in 1995 moved to the Coast Guard Station of Rafina, as Head of the Maritime Environment, Safety and Marine Environment Protection Offices. In 1998, Vice Admiral Vidalis decided to continue his studies at a postgraduate level, and graduated with a LL.M. in Maritime Law from the University of Southampton, UK, where he studied with scholarship from the Eugenides Foundation. He, then, returned to Greece and joined the Ministry of Mercantile Marine, where he initially served in the Maritime Affairs Division, and then in the Department of Maritime Policy and Development. In 2005 he was appointed as National Expert on Maritime Affairs in the European Commission. On his return after a three-year term, he was appointed as Acting Head of Shipping Policy & Development Directorate in the Ministry of Mercantile Marine. Next, he was appointed, among others, as Director for Planning, Organization and Legal Affairs Directorate of the Hellenic Coast Guard Command, where he stayed for a three years period. With his promotion as Commodore of the Hellenic Coast Guard, he was appointed as Head of the Advisory Office of the Commander of the Hellenic Coast Guard, while after his further promotion to Rear Admiral he was entrusted with the post of the Inspector General of the Hellenic Coast Guard, until his retirement in 2017. From October 2018 he is the Head of Metropolitan College Maritime Academy.

Captain George Tsouris

Capt. George Tsouris

Captain George Tsouris was born in Chios in 1964. He is the Operations Manager and DPA-CSO of Blue Planet Shipping Ltd, as well as the President of Chios Marine Club. He has vast experience as Deck Officer, serving for several years after finishing his studies at the Merchant Marine Academy of Oinoussae (1983). Capt. Tsouris obtained his Master Class A’ Diploma in 1996, having a summative 13 years of net Sea Service. Capt. Tsouris has an extensive experience as Operations Manager and DPA, while he has also served as secretary of the Masters & Mates Union of Greek Merchant Marine (2008- 2015). Since 2008, he is a member of the board of the Disciplinary Committee of the Merchant Navy. Capt Tsouris has also been involved in teaching, being a lecturer at various academic institutions, including the University of Aegean. As of October 2018, he is Clinical Professor from Industry at the University of Piraeus.

Sue Harland

Sue Harland MSc BSc (Hons) PGCLTHE MNI MIMarEst RMarTech FHEA

Sue went to sea in 1989 and worked for F. T. Everard and Sons on their fleet of coastal dry cargo vessels and clean product tankers, rising to the rank of chief officer. Subsequent sea service was gained deep sea with Shell and Pritchard Gordon Tankers on oil and gas tankers. She has also worked as a chief officer on a variety of other vessel types, including aggregate and harbour maintenance dredgers, fast craft and conventional ferries.

After leaving the sea, Sue worked at the UK Hydrographic Office for 10 years, where she was the first female editor of Sailing Directions. Subsequent roles included Lights production manager, where she was responsible for producing paper Admirality List of Lights and the digital ADP product, and one of the Lights experts for the UKHO; deputy publications standards manager, responsible for ensuring international and national standards in nautical publications; and finally as miscellaneous publications manager with production and editorial responsibility for The Mariner’s Handbook, Ocean Passages for the World, and NP5011 and NP5012 Chart Symbols and Abbreviations. Sue also did extensive work on the AVCS vector chart series of ENC folios and was part of the ‘Ask Admiralty’ panel of experts.

Sue has been a senior lecturer at Warsash Maritime Academy for several years, teaching a range of courses including acting as course leader for the Human Element, Leadership and Management (Operational Level) course. She is also a member of the Warsash School of Maritime Science and Engineering ethics approval panel. Sue has also been a guest lecturer at the World Maritime University, working with Dr Lisa Froholdt on the Mari-Wel Project. Sue has an MSc in Educational Leadership and Management as well as a First Class Honours BSc in Maritime Studies.

Dr Konstantinos Poulis

Dr Konstantinos Poulis

Konstantinos is the General Manager of Epsilon Hellas. He is also the elected Chairman of the Recruitment & Training Committee of the International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC) and Member of the organization’s Executive Committee. Following a decade-long career in academia, he is currently a Senior Lecturer at Middlesex University teaching in the MBA program in Shipping offered in collaboration with Lloyd’s Maritime Academy. He holds a PhD from the University of Manchester and he has also studied in the Athens University of Economics and Business, UMIST and the University of Antwerp.

Professor Dinos Arcoumanis

Professor Dinos Arcoumanis

Professor Arcoumanis’ academic career includes appointments as Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London, Dean of Engineering & Mathematics and later Vice-President at City, University of London, as well as Honorary/Visiting Professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong, Tianjin and Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in China and at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University of Russia. Professor Arcoumanis is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the UK Institute of Directors as well as a former Ambassador-at-large of the Hellenic Republic for Energy Policy and New Technologies. Over the last few years he has also acted as Director and Member of the Board of the Angelicoussis Shipping Group and is presently Chairman of the Academic Board of the Metropolitan College of Greece.

Kostas Vlachos

Kostas Vlachos

Mechanical / Electrical Engineer graduated from Technical University of Athens.

For 15 years he worked as a representative member for the Hellenic Flag Administration in IMO and EU in Safety and Environmental committees.

He is currently the COO of Latsco Shipping Ltd and the Managing Director of the subsidiary company the Latsco Marine Management Inc. having full control and responsibilities on technical and operational matters of the vessels belonging to the corporate company

Member of ABS, DNV-GL, LRS, National and technical committees.

Ex chairman of Intertanko Hellenic Mediterranean Panel and a Council representative of Greece member.

Member of the ExCom of Intertanko.

Member of Intertanko Safety, Technical and Environmental Committee (ISTEC) and of Intertanko Gas Committee.

Member of General Purpose Committee of SIGTO

Speaker in various fora related to Safety, Environmental and Technological developments, such as Intertanko, Mare Forum, Newsfront, Capital link, Lloyds Gas Forum, DNV-GL safety forum, Safety4Sea and others.

Ilias Bissias

Ilias Bissias

Ilias G. Bissias is the Director of the award winning magazine Greek shipping magazine, Naftika Chronika (published since 1931) and the educational platform Isalos.net. Greece. Since 2002 Mr. Bissias has regularly lectured on the areas of international maritime policy, strategic management in shipping, corporate communications and contemporary maritime history at various educational establishments around Greece. In the past he has also worked for the European Commission (1999-2002) and was a legal correspondent for Greece in the areas of air transport law and policy. Mr. Bissias holds a Bachelor and Master’s Degree in Law from the University of London and is currently researching on the image of shipping and crisis management and on the sociological profile of young Greeks at Sea. In 2009 he was invited by the US State Department to visit the US on the IV Leadership Program (IVLP). His funded trip by the Department of State focused on Maritime education and crisis/ disaster management in specific States with maritime tradition.

Capt. Michalis Fragkias

Capt. Michalis Fragkias

Date/Place of birth: 11/1944 – Chios

1962 until today. work for S.Livanos Group / Sun Enterprises Ltd

1962-1975: Cadet/Deck Officer (Dry cargo / tankers)

1976 – Merchant Marine Certificate of Master

1976 to 1992 – Master on all types / size of tankers including VLCC / ULCC

1992 to 2000: Crew Manager of S.Livanos-Hellas/Sun Enterprises Ltd

2000 – 2018 – Designated Management Representative / DPA, in charge for Sun Entrprises Ltd

Health, Safety, Quality & Environmental Management System

2005 – 2018: In charge of Sun Enterprises Ltd TMSA

2019: Senior Marine Advisor of Sun Enterprises Ltd

From 1992 until today: In charge for the Company’s shore and shipboard personnel, education and training needs.

In the last 10 years member of HELMEPA Training Committee.

Dr. John Kokarakis

Dr. John Kokarakis

Dr Kokarakis a 1979 graduate of National Technical University of Athens, holds PhD (1986) and Masters degrees in Naval Architecture (1983) and Mechanical Engineering (1984) from the University of Michigan.

He worked for over ten years as a consultant undertaking technical problems worldwide. His specialization was in the area of technical investigation of marine accidents. In his capacity as a forensic engineer he participated in the technical investigation of the Exxon Valdez grounding, the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, the drillship Sea-Crest capsize, the Piper Alpha fire and explosion, the Aleutian Enterprise foundering in Alaska as well as many other accidents of less notoriety. In addition, he was a technical consultant for SEALAND, APL, MATSON Navigation, Chevron and other companies.

The last twenty years he works in Greece, in the area of classification. Having served in the plan approval office of American Bureau of Shipping in Piraeus, he then joined Germanischer Lloyd heading their tanker and bulk carrier team in Greece. He is currently the Technical Director of Bureau Veritas in the Hellenic and Black Sea & Adriatic Zone.

In his duties Dr. Kokarakis is responsible for the smooth technical operation in the Zone as well as in the harmonic cooperation with the BV offices worldwide to the benefit of the BV clients. He is a member of SNAME since 1976 and a Fellow of the Society. He is currently the Chairman of the Greek Section since 2014. He has also served as International Vice President of the Society and a Member of the Fellows Committee.

Ο Δρ Κοκαράκης, απόφοιτος του Εθνικού Μετσόβιου Πολυτεχνείου (1979), κατέχει διδακτορικό δίπλωμα (1986) και μεταπτυχιακό δίπλωμα στη ναυπηγική (1983) και μηχανολογία (1984) από το Πανεπιστήμιο του Michigan.

Εργάστηκε για πάνω από δέκα χρόνια ως σύμβουλος που αναλάμβανε τεχνικά προβλήματα παγκοσμίως. Η εξειδίκευσή του ήταν στον τομέα της τεχνικής διερεύνησης θαλάσσιων ατυχημάτων. Υπό την ιδιότητά του αυτή, συμμετείχε στην τεχνική διερεύνηση της προσάραξης του Exxon Valdez, της καταστροφής του διαστημικού λεωφορείου Challenger, της βύθισης του Sea-Crest, της πυρκαγιάς και της έκρηξης του Piper Alpha, της βύθισης του αλιευτικού Aleutian Enterprise στην Αλάσκα καθώς και σε πολλά άλλα ατυχήματα λιγότερο γνωστά. Επιπλέον, ήταν τεχνικός σύμβουλος της SEALAND, της APL, της MATSON Navigation, της Chevron και άλλων εταιρειών.

Τα τελευταία είκοσι χρόνια δουλεύει στην Ελλάδα, στον τομέα των νηογνωμονώνων. Αφού υπηρέτησε στο γραφείο έγκρισης του ABS στον Πειραιά, έργάσθηκε στο Germanischer Lloyd, επικεφαλής της ομάδας δεξαμενόπλοιων και πλοίων μεταφοράς φορτίου χύδην.

Σήμερα είναι Τεχνικός Διευθυντής του Bureau Veritas στην Ελλαδική και Μαύρη Θάλασσα και στην Αδριατική Ζώνη.

Στα καθήκοντά του ο Δρ. Κοκαράκης είναι υπεύθυνος για την ομαλή τεχνική λειτουργία της Ζώνης καθώς και για την αρμονική συνεργασία με τα γραφεία του Γαλλικού Νηογνώμονα παγκοσμίως προς όφελος των πελατών του BV. Είναι μέλος και Fellow της SNAME από το 1976. Είναι Πρόεδρος του Ελληνικού Τμήματος από το 2014. Διετέλεσε επίσης Διεθνής Αντιπρόεδρος της SNAME και μέλος της Επιτροπής Fellows.

Giannis Moraitakis

Giannis Moraitakis

Giannis Moraitakis has studied Marine Engineering in the Hellenic Naval Academy. He continued his studies in the National Technical University of Athens in the School of Electrical Engineering & Computer science and later he received his master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School of USA.

He has served for 29 years as an officer in the Hellenic Navy, in various positions onboard ships and later in shore assignments as an engineer and electronic officer. In 2014, he ended his career in the Navy with the rank of Commodore and worked as a technical manager in the NEARCHOS ship-management company. He joined Wartsila in 2018 in the position of Senior Business and Sales Development Manager, Electrical & Automation Expert.

Mary Pothitos

Mary Pothitos

Finished school in the UK and graduated from the Law school of Wolverhampton University, UK.

After working two years to gain practical experience in the City of London, in 1989, joint the family business of shipowning and shipmanagement in Greece, Pothitos Shipping Co S.A., as the Legal and Insurance Director and later in the same post, at N.A.N.E. Shipping Management S.A. until 2014. Experienced with handling cargo claims and charter party disputes. Actively involved in the management and operation of the fleet.

2014 was appointed Advisor on International Relations at Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association and Director of the Shortsea Promotion Centre (SPC) – Greece and served a two year term. From January till December 2016, was a Member of the Board, of the European Shortsea Network (ESN).

2016 started PARALEGAL MARITIME SERVICES, offering professional assistance for efficient and cost effective management of claims.

Developed and delivers the seminars:

Marine Insurance and Claims Handling – for DNV GL Academy

Co-developed Salvage and Wreck Removal

Co-developed EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for shipping.

Member of WISTA (Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association)

Apostolos Belokas

Apostolos Belokas

Apostolos Belokas, Managing Editor, SAFETY4SEA

Apostolos Belokas is a Maritime Safety, Quality & Environmental Expert, Consultant, Trainer and Project Manager with more than 25 year background in shipping as Technical, Marine, Safety & Training Superintendent and Consultant. He entered the industry back in 1992 as Engineering Superintendent with a leading ship manager operating a mixed fleet of bulk and oil/chemical tankers and later shifted to regulatory compliance and QHSE issues as superintendent and later as a Consultant and Trainer. Apostolos has successfully completed a wide range of QHSE projects including 250+ management system projects (ISM/ISO 9001-14001-18001/TMSA/MLC), 500 vessel and office audits to various standards and he has trained more than 5,000 people in a wide variety of QHSE subjects. He is holding Mechanical Engineering Bachelor and Master’s specialising in Energy & Environment and Master’s Degrees in Maritime Business and Business Administration (MBA), all of them awarded with distinction. Apostolos is the Managing Director of SQE MARINE & SQE ACADEMY and he is also the Founder and Managing Editor of SAFETY4SEA.

Dr. Marina Papaioannou

Dr. Marina Papaioannou

She graduated from the University of Patras, Department of Geology in 1989 and received a PhD in Geophysics in 2002.

She has participated in various scientific projects related to archaeological geophysics, which was also the specific topic of her Thesis titled “The application of geophysics in the investigation of underground structures in urban environment”. She worked as a free-launch geologist/geophysicist until 2000, undertaking a major part of the geophysical investigations for the construction of the Metro of Athens, participating in various NATO SFS Programs, as well as numerous archaeological /geophysical projects and civil construction works.

In 2000, she started her career in the maritime business with her employment at the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association – HELMEPA. Within her duties was to follow the works of the Committees for the Protection of the Marine Environment (MEPC) and Maritime Safety (MSC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, translation and simplification of laws and regulations relevant to the protection of the marine environment and oil pollution prevention and response and teaching at seminars with relevant subjects.

In 2008 she started her employment with Germanischer Lloyd Academy and she has been GL Academy Area Manager for Southern Europe, responsible for the training activities of GL for Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Turkey, Spain, Portugal. Since 1^st January 2014, she is managing the training business under the new merged organization – DNV GL’s Maritime Academy Hellas, for which she is also a trainer. She has a significant presence in national and international conferences/symposiums as a speaker, with numerous publications.

Elected Secretary General of WISTA Hellas (April 2014 – March 2016).

George Tsavliris

George Tsavliris

Mr. George A. Tsavliris was born in London. He graduated from Athens College in 1968 and having acquired professional qualifications in Shipping (F.I.C.S., ACI.Arb), he concluded his graduate and post graduate studies in Shipping Law at University College London in 1973, with an L.L.M. degree. In 2009 he was qualified as a Mediator at the ADR Group London and in 2014 was certified as a Mediator by the Greek Ministry of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights. He familiarized himself with the shipping and salvage sectors from a very early age by being engaged in the family business. George is a Principal at “Tsavliris Salvage Group” and represents the business on both a commercial and environmental basis internationally.

He holds the position of Past Chairman of INTERMEPA (International Marine Environment Protection Association), Chairman of CYMEPA (Cyprus Marine Environmental Protection Association), which received the “Cyprus Maritime Prize 2007”, as well as member of the Board of Directors of Cyprus Union of Shipowners, Board Member of ECSA (European Community Shipowners’ Associations), Board Member of The Yacht Club of Greece, Board Member of Friends of Hellas Liberty Association and the Jubilee Sailing Trust in the UK and Honorary Chairman of the Tsavliris Cultural Foundation.

Furthermore, Mr. George Tsavliris has taken on the role of Academic Director of Metropolitan College / Solent Southampton University. Mr George Tsavliris was awarded the 2016 Capital Link Greek Shipping Leadership Award, in recognition of his unique and extensive contribution to Shipping and Greece and for his overall outstanding service to the shipping industry made by him individually, as a family and by his company as a Group. George is a frequent keynote speaker and panelist at numerous maritime related conferences. He is an avid supporter of various charities, an art and music enthusiast and has completed ten London marathons. He is a father of six children.

Panos Zachariadis

Panos Zachariadis

Panos Zachariadis is a Mechanical Engineer (BSc) and Naval Architect (MSE) from the University of Michigan with a 35-year experience in shipping. He has served for years as Marine Superintendent in New York, after periods of shipbuilding supervision in Japan and sea service in bulk carriers and oil tankers. He is Technical Director of Atlantic Bulk Carriers since 1997 and a member of the Greek Delegation to IMO since 2004, having contributed to the development of several well-known regulations (e.g. GBS, PSPC, FSA) and the prevention of others (e.g. double hull bulk carriers). In cooperation with major Korean shipyards he has applied numerous energy saving ideas, some of which have become industry standards. He is a member of Technical Committees of several classification societies, UGS and Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, BIMCO Marine Committee, BoD HELMEPA and MARTECMA. He has been honored with the 2011 Efkranti award for his contribution to Greek shipping, the Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association 2017 Maritime Personality award, the 2017 Lloyd’s List “Achievement in Safety or Environmental Protection” award and the 2019 Green4Sea Personality Award.

Panos Mitrou

Panos Mitrou

Panos Mitrou has been with LR for more than 13 years and currently holds the position of Technology & Innovation Manager for Marine & Offshore in South Europe. His primary focus is on uptake of technology, alternative fuels, forthcoming legislation, innovation, compliance and commercial challenges.

During his seven year service with Lloyd’s Register Piraeus Technical Support Office, he has dealt with series of statutory and other reviews, ranging from BWM to MARPOL and the IBC and IGC Codes. In this context he has supported and lead the implementation of several pieces of new legislation. Since 2007 he has represented Lloyd’s Register in a number of international forums, conferences and projects. He has been deeply involved in the setup and materialization of funded projects in the maritime sector, initiating this activity in the Eastern Mediterranean. In 2016 he lead elemed, the first ever maritime funded project in the European Union, under the cohesion fund envelope.

Panos holds a Naval Architect and Marine Engineer Diploma from NTUA and an MBA in Shipping from ALBA Business School. He is currently a PhD candidate in Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering, at University of Strathclyde.

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