Capital Link is hosting the “14th Annual Capital Link Operational Excellence in Shipping Forum - Best Industry Practices - Building Long Term Value Through Sustainability”, on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at the Athenaeum Intercontinental Athens, in Athens, Greece. 

With a 14-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. 

The forum agenda will start by registration and coffee sponsored by Castor Maritime and Toro. Then Welcome Remarks by Mr. Nicolas Bornozis, President at Capital Link, followed by Introductory Remarks by Mr. Christopher J. Wiernicki, Chairman & CEO at ABS. 

Over the course of the event, sessions under the spotlight will include: “FUEL POTENTIAL UNLOCKED – NATURALLY POWERED BY XBEE” session that will be presented by Mr. Roy Gebbink, Managing Director at XBEE Marine. Also, “REALITY CHECK ON MARINE FUELS & ENERGY TRANSITION” (Availability, Affordability & Scalability) moderated by Mr. Vassilis Dimoulas, Technology & Innovation Director SEEBA Zone at Bureau Veritas and will include 4 Panelists: Dr. George D. Pateras, President at Hellenic Chamber of Shipping; Deputy Chairman at Contships Management, Mr. Kostas Polydakis, CEO at MM Marine, Mercuria Energy Group; Head of Shipping at Minerva Bunkering, Mercuria Energy Group, Mr. Constantinos Capetanakis, Bunker Director at Star Bulk Carriers Corp (NASDAQ: SBLK); Chair at IBIA, in addition to Mr. George Saroglou, President & COO at TEN Ltd. (NYSE: TEN). 

The Forum will also include a session titled “SAFETY & SUSTAINABILITY - SAFEGUARDING THE CREWS, CARGOES, & THE ENVIRONMENT” moderated by Mr. Christopher J. Wiernicki, Chairman & CEO at ABS, as for the Panelists it will include the following: Mr. Stylianos Psillakis, Technical Director - Columbia Shipmanagement, Mr. George Poularas, CEO - Enesel SA, Mr. Kostas Karathanos, COO – GasLog Ltd., Mr. Roberto P. Cazzulo, Council Chair - International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), and Mr. Dimitrios Fafalios, Chairman - INTERCARGO; President / Director – Fafalios Shipping. As well as a session titled “SPOTLIGHT ON HUMAN SUSTAINABILITY” moderated by Mr. Michalis Pantazopoulos, General Manager - Liberian Registry (LISCR Hellas) in the presence of 5 panelists: Mr. Vangelis Sfakiotakis, COO - Diana Shipping Services S.A., Ms. Ioanna Lali, D.E.I. Officer & Alternate Crew Manager - Dorian LPG Ltd. (NYSE: LPG), Mr. Tim Ponath, CEO - NSB Group, Mr. Theo Baltatzis, General Manager - Technomar Shipping, and Ms. Venetia Kallipolitou, Cross Department HR & Training Manager - Tsakos Group; Commander – Hellenic Coast Guard (Retired). In addition to another session named “NAVIGATING TROUBLED WATERS” presented by Rear Admiral Vasileios Gryparis HN, Operational Commander "EUNAVFOR ASPIDES" - Hellenic Navy General Staff. 

Other sessions will include “RIDING THE TECHNOLOGY WAVE (Fleet Performance Optimization Through Innovation & Digitalization)” moderated by Mr. Spyridon Zolotas, Senior Director – RINA, in which the Panelists will include Mr. Dimitris Vastarouchas, COO & Vice President – Danaos Corporation, Mr. Marcos Vassilicos, Managing Director – Eurobulk, Mr. Antonios Georgantzis, COO – Latsco Marine Management, Mr. Costas Kontes, Group Commercial Director Europe / Managing Director – Mediterranean Cluster – V.Ships Greece Ltd. Additionally to another session titled “ALL ABOUT CARBON - CARBON CAPTURE, STORAGE AND DISPOSAL” moderated by Dr. Chara Georgopoulou, Head of R&D and Advisory Unit Greece, Onboard CCS Manager, Maritime – DNV and will feature 4 panelists: Mr. Jerry Kalogiratos, CEO - Capital Clean Energy Carriers Corp. (NASDAQ: CCEC), Mr. Jasper Heikens, CCO – Ecolog, Ms. Eleni Polychronopoulou, President - ERMA FIRST GROUP, Mr. Nikolas Rigas, Head of Carbon Storage – EnEarth, Mr. George Daskalakis, Head Technology Management, Strategy Division - Motor Oil (Hellas). 

Moreover, the Forum will also cover three more sessions: one of them will be a 1x1 Discussion between Mr. Frederic Bouthillier, Head of Shipping - Vertis Environmental Finance and Ms. Vanessa Tzoannos, Partner - Hill Dickinson under the name “GOING INTO 2025 - FUELEU MARITIME & EU ETS.” Followed by another session titled “PORT STATE CONTROL – CHINA” that will be presented by Mr. Francis Chin, Executive Director – Singhai Marine Services (Singapore). In addition to another session titled “THE SHIPOWNER’S PERSPECTIVE - LOOKING AHEAD” moderated by Ms. Elina Papageorgiou, Global Strategic Growth Director & Vice President, Greece & Cyprus - Lloyd’s Register and will feature 5 panelists: Mr. Sveinung Støhle, Deputy CEO - Angelicoussis Group, Mr. Jerry Kalogiratos, CEO - Capital Clean Energy Carriers Corp. (NASDAQ: CCEC), Mr. Thomas Lister, CEO - Global Ship Lease Ltd. (NYSE: GSL), Mr. George Thanopoulos, CEO - Neda Maritime Agency Co. Ltd., Ms. Charis Plakantonakis, Chief Strategy Officer - Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (NASDAQ: SBLK).

Furthermore, A keynote remarks will be presented by Christos Stylianides, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy - Hellenic Republic of Greece. And the "2024 CAPITAL LINK MARITIME SUSTAINABILITY AWARD" will be presented by Mr. Emanuele Grimaldi, Chairman - INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF SHIPPING; President & MD - Grimaldi Euromed SpA ; Managing Director - Grimaldi Group. Adding to that, Introductory Remarks will be presented by Ms. Melina Travlos, President - Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) ; Chair of the Board - Neptune Lines.

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	Issue 93 of Robban Assafina (Sep / Oct. 2024)