The international Forum organized by Navigator Shipping Consultants Ltd. was held for the 16th consecutive year and proved that it still remains one of the most popular events in the shipping industry.
The event took place on Friday, November 4th 2016 at the Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso. More than 500 executives of Shipping Community, Ambassadors from 25 countries, members of the banking sector, representatives of major maritime organizations, academics, students and press representatives were present at the NAVIGATOR 2016 - "The Shipping Decision Makers Forum".
The Managing Director of Navigator, Mrs. Danae Bezantakou, welcomed the participants and urged them to stop making crisis a brand and try to take advantage of the opportunities that arise through this situation.
The President of the Company, Capt. Dimitris Bezantakos, in his opening speech encouraged all decision makers of the Greek Shipping Industry to leave pessimism aside and strive in order to maintain its leading position in the world.
The Forum was inaugurated by Mr. Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Former Minister of the Hellenic Ministry of Shipping and the Aegean, as well as by Mrs. Eva Kaili, Member of the European Parliament.
Furthermore, special tribute was paid to the port of Piraeus. Mr. Petros Kokkalis, Executive City Councillor for Local Economic Development and Entrepreneurship of the Municipality of Piraeus, noted the historical significance and prospects of evolution in order to become the busiest port in the Mediterranean, through the “Blue Growth” program.
The first panel, entitled “Ports as an Economic Aspect & Market Analysis” was moderated by Mr. George Xiradakis, Managing Director – XRTC Business Consultants Ltd and President – The Propeller Club (Port of Piraeus). The panel consisted of Mrs. Katerina Stathopoulou, Executive Director - Investments & Finance, Mrs. Vera Alexandropoulou, Legal Department – Piraeus Port Authority Mr. Javier López, Commercial Manager - Algeciras Port Authority and Mr. Apostolos Kamarinakis, Civil Engineer - Rtd. Vadm Hellenic Coast Guard & former CEO of the Hellenic Port Development Center.
For the 4th consecutive year, under Navigator’s initiative, an open discussion was held among foreign Ambassadors who serve in Greece. This panel was moderated by Mr. Francois Lafond, President Blue Networks and Opportunities & Associate Professor Sciences Po Paris with the participation of the Ambassador of the Korean Republic in Greece, the Port Ambassador of Antwerp Port Authority and the Ambassador of the Italian Republic in Greece.
The last panel with title “Smart & Green maritime Technology: Where we are now, and what's next?” was moderated by Mrs. Helena Athoussaki, Head of Maritime Sustainability Centre - PwC and consisted of Mr. George Christopoulos, Vice Admiral of Hellenic Navy (Rtd) Marine Operations LAROS – Prisma Electronics, Mr. Khalid Talukder, Chief Revenue Officer – Tranomex, Diabos’ Cash Management Partner, Mr. Konstantinos Stampedakis, General Director – Erma First Esk Engineering Solutions S.A and Mr. Frank Paleokrassas, Corporate Manager - Fleet Performance – Bernhard Schulte Ship management (Hellas) SPLLC. The main topic discussed within the framework of this panel was the implementation of the environmental regulations.
Moreover, panelists emphasized on the importance of the shipping companies applying technological integration and analyzed ways in which the implementation of the "green model" can improve the performance of the crew, with regards to Safety and the logistics chain.
