Maritime London and British Embassy run successful event in Athens

This is the role of the administration, to ensure that the framework is done in favour of this.”

Haralambos Fafalios, Chair of the London-based Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee, and George Alexandratos, President of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping gave brief addresses, followed by a Tanker Market Outlook presentation, delivered by Henry Curra, Braemar’s Head of Global Research, which proved especially topical.

The first conference session explored how Greece and the UK can collaborate to ensure the next generation of seafarers are equipped to manage an increasingly complex operational environment, moderated by Capt Kostas Karavasilis, Regional Director, Loss Prevention, UK P&I Club. Panellists included Vicky Apostolopoulou, Head of Career, Employability and Alumni, Metropolitan College; Ajit Jacob, Director Seafarer Services, Chief Examiner, UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency; and Venetia Kallipolitou, Commander HCG (Rtd), Cross-Departmental HR and Training Manager, Tsakos Group.

The panel talked about how the UK and Greece might work together better to get future sailors ready for more complicated operating needs. Some of the main topics were how to adapt training to digital tools, automation, and alternative fuels, as well as how important soft skills and quality sea time are. The speakers stressed the importance of working together on projects like knowledge exchange programs and aligning the curriculum to make sure that cadets graduate with both the technical abilities and the people skills needed for safe and sustainable.

Capt Karavasilis said: “It was an honour to lead a session that brought together experts from Greece and the UK to talk about the future of maritime training. As our sector changes because of digitalisation and decarbonisation, it is more important than ever for regulators, academics, and ship operators to work together.”

Following a brief refreshments break, Maritime London Chief Executive Jos Standerwick then moderated a session showcasing how technology and data can improve operational performance and commercial risk management, and the UK expertise.

Kathleen Elward of Silverstream Technologies talked about how proven clean technologies, supported by reliable data and lifecycle service, are helping to improve efficiency and manage commercial risk. Drawing from Silverstream’s experience across global fleets, this talk highlights the challenges and opportunities in adopting energy efficiency technologies (EETs), the importance of data maturity, and how operators can maximise the long-term value of these investments.

Dr Maria Progoulaki, Senior Consultant and Facilitator, Green-Jakobsen Representative in Greece, focused on the human side of performance, with her presentation highlighting how technology and data improve operational performance and risk management in the maritime business, and how data interpretation plays a crucial role in ensuring psychological safety. The presentation showcased how the synergy of technology, data, and psychological safety leads to superior operational performance and proactive commercial risk mitigation, by giving examples from Green-Jakobsen’s experience.

Paddy Rynders, Marine Director at BMT, introduced the audience to MATE^TM , BMT’s cloud-based vessel-monitoring tool that translates the results of physical inspections into scoreboards and graphs, highlighting risk areas helping clients to improve vessel performance and mitigating risk.

Stefan Schrijnen, Chief Commercial Officer of Insurwave, said “We have seen first-hand what technology and data can do to support commercial risk management in the maritime sector’, while presenting a case study of a mid to large size owner operator that stood up a commercial risk management capability, including a new tech platform Insurwave. “We’re a part of the story, but the focus is more on the client, what they are trying to achieve, implementation, challenges and benefits.”

Closing remarks were delivered by Evita Souri, Commercial Director, Greece, Department for Business & Trade, British Embassy Athens, who invited all to continue the discussion and network over lunch.