www.TheSeaNation.gr

Capital Link is hosting the 13th Annual Operational Excellence in Shipping Forum on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at the Divani Caravel Hotel in Athens, Greece.
With a 13-year track record it 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 will be paid to sustainability and ESG considerations.
The Forum provides 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.
This year's forum will once more feature industry leaders sharing their insight on critical industry issues.
Agenda
Introductory Remarks
9:30 - 9:40 AM
Dr. Antonis S. Papadimitriou, President - Onassis Foundation;
Member of the Board - Global Maritime Forum
The Importance of Transparent Emissions Reporting - Benefits to Shipowners
9:45 - 10:25 AM
Shipowners need to provide regularly emissions data to various stakeholders such as bankers, insurers, charterers and regulators. The discussion will focus on the differences among emissions reporting systems, the need for standardization and the benefits this can generate for the industry.
MODERATOR: Mr. Dimitris Anassis FCIArb, Partner - Hill Dickinson
PANELISTS:
Mr. Stamatis Fradelos, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs - ABS
Mr. Vassilios Maroulis, Managing Director, Global Industry Head, Shipping, Logistics & Offshore - Citi
Mr. Jeff Wakker, General Manager - Viterra Chartering
Ms. Charis Plakantonakis, Chief Strategy Officer - Star Bulk Carriers Corp.
Mr. Angelos Vatikalos, Director of Strategic Business Development and Planning - Signal Maritime
Alternative Fuels - Presentation
10:30 - 10:45 AM
Dr. M. Abdul Rahim, Corporate Officer, Managing Director for Europe and Africa - ClassNK
The Fleet Renewal Landscape - Ships & Fuels of Today & Tomorrow
10:50 - 11:30 AM
While the jury is still out in terms of which is the ultimate "winning green fuel", shipowners need to continue with fleet renewal in order to maintain competitiveness and achieve compliance with environmental regulations and market expectations. This panel will focus on fleet renewal strategies implemented by major shipowners sharing their insight as to their strategy and approach.
MODERATOR: Ms. Elina Papageorgiou, Vice President, Greece - Lloyd's Register

PANELISTS:
Mr. Stelios Troulis, Director, Green Ship, Energy Transition & Sustainability - Angelicoussis Group
Mr. Aristides J. Pittas, Chairman & CEO - EuroDry (EDRY) & Euroseas (ESEA)
Mr. Thomas Lister, CCO & Head of ESG - Global Ship Lease (GSL)
Dr. George D. Pateras, President - Hellenic Chamber of Shipping; Deputy Chairman - ContShips Management
Dr. Loukas Barmparis, President and Director - Safe Bulkers Inc.
Safe Ships in Clean Seas
11:35 - 11:45 AM
Human element, environmental consciousness and safety as cornerstones of
Sustainability and Quality Shipping Ms. Semiramis Paliou CEO - Diana Shipping (DSX) Chairperson - HELMEPA
Keynote Remarks
11:50 - 12:05 AM
H.E. Christos Stylianides Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Hellenic Republic
Keynote Address & Presentation
“2023 Capital Link Maritime Sustainability Award”
12:10 - 12:50 PM
Keynote Introductory Remarks: Mr. Evangelos Marinakis Founder and Chairman Capital Maritime & Trading Corp.
Honoree: Mr. Rasmus Bach Nielsen Global Head of Fuel Decarbonization Trafigura
The Global Supply Chain & The Role of Charterers
1:50 - 2:40 PM
The panel will provide charterer insight on three main topics - how market conditions develop in the face of current geopolitical and economic challenges; strategies in pursuit of green shipping; how charterers advance sustainability issues throughout the supply chain through their own policies and guidelines/requirements they ask their trading partners to adhere to.
MODERATOR: Mr. Stamatis Tsantanis, Chairman & CEO - Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. (SHIP); Founder, Chairman & CEO - United Maritime Corporation (USEA)
PANELISTS:
Mr. George Wells, Commercial Head for Structured Deals and Decarbonization - Cargill
Mr. Matt Caddock, Senior Commercial Manager - Chevron Shipping
Ms. Heidi Aakre, Vice President of Shipping - Equinor
Mr. Bud Darr, EVP, Maritime Policy and Government Affairs - MSC
Mr. Scott Bergeron, Managing Director, Global Engagement & Sustainability - Oldendorff Carriers
Mr. Andrea Olivi, Global Head of Wet Freight - Trafigura Group
Safety & The Human Element
2:45 - 3:25 PM
The recruitment, training, retention and welfare of seafarers and onshore personnel remain a critical issue for the shipping industry exacerbated by the geopolitical challenges of today. The panel will address the evolving landscape in this area and will also focus on the role of the Human Factor in Ship Safety.
MODERATOR: Mr. Michalis Pantazopoulos, General Manager - Liberian Registry (LISCR Hellas)
PANELISTS:
Mr. Alex Hadjipateras, Executive VP of Business Development - Dorian LPG (LPG)
Ms. Venetia Kallipolitou, Cross Department HR & Training Manager - Tsakos Group; Commander - Hellenic Coast Guard (Retired)
Mr. Helio Vicente, Director of Employment Affairs - ICS
Mr. Petros Achtypis, Founder & CEO - Prevention at Sea
Ms. Elpi Petraki, President - WISTA International
All About Carbon - Carbon Offsets, Carbon Capture, Carbon Credits, EU ETs, Slow Steaming
3:30 - 4:10 PM
Do all available options and strategies lead to reduction of carbon emissions? What is best to use and how? The discussion will provide insight on how alternative strategies help achieve carbon reduction especially in light of the recent IMO and EU regulations and market expectations.
MODERATOR: Mr. Jason Stephanatos, Global Decarbonization Director - DNV
PANELISTS:
Mr. Jacopo Visetti, Co-Founder - Aither Group
Mr. Simon Bennett, Deputy Secretary General - ICS
Mr. Stavros Niotis, Chief Sustainability Officer - Prime Marine
Mr. Frederic Bouthillier, Head of Shipping - Vertis Environmental Finance
Mr. Theo Baltazis, General Manager - Technomar
Technology - Taking Shipping to the Next Stage
4:15 - 4:55 PM
Technology has a transformational impact across all areas of shipping optimizing technical and operational performance - reducing costs, improving efficiency and communications, enhancing safety & security, meeting decarbonization targets and more. The advent of Artificial Intelligence is about to accelerate technology's impact on the industry. This panel will discuss how leading shipowners and solutions providers are using technology to optimize their operations and the priority areas to which they allocate capital.
MODERATOR: Mr. Spyridon Zolotas, Marine Southern Europe & Africa Area, Senior Director - RINA
PANELISTS:
Capt. Pankaj Sharma, Group Director Digital Performance Optimization - Columbia Shipmanagement
Mr. Dimitris Vastarouhas, Deputy COO - Danaos Corporation
Mr. Michalis Malliaros, General Manager - Euronav
Mr. Yarden Gross, Co-Founder & CEO - Orca AI
Navigating Through Industry Transformation - Shipowners' Roundtable
5:00 - 5:40 PM
The panel will provide the shipowners perspective on the current challenges and opportunities across shipping segments today, taking into consideration regulatory, geopolitical, technological, financial and market developments.
MODERATOR: Mrs. Paillette Palaiologou, Vice President M&O Division South East Europe, Black Sea & Adriatic Zone – Bureau Veritas
PANELISTS:
Mr. Jerry Kalogiratos, CEO - Capital Product Partners (CPLP)
Mr. George Margaronis, CEO - Latsco Shipping Ltd.
Mr. Stamatis Tsantanis, Chairman & CEO - Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. (SHIP); Founder, Chairman & CEO - United Maritime Corporation (USEA)
Mr. George Saroglou, President - Tsakos Energy Navigation (TEN)