H.E. David D. Pearce, the US Ambassador in Athens delivering his speech
This mid-week Posidonia 2014 reception given by the American Ambassador at his residence in Athens was not only a great event but confirmed and re-affirmed the strong links in the maritime field and beyond of the world’s two superpowers: The US and Greece running the globe and shipping business respectively! The atmosphere of tranquillity and warmth on the lawn delighted all who attended this Posidonia Week reception and coincidentally the weather conditions prevailing were exactly the same as those of two years ago!
The Ambassador of the United States, H.E. David D. Pearce, and embassy, consulate, trade and cultural officials entertained us with traditional cordiality and openness: an at-home style in which the Americans excel! John Faraclas and Anny Zade were there with their cameras…
l to r: George Frowick, Virginia Bennett, Irene Ralli, Anny Zade and Themis Vokos
Nearly one hundred guests from all sectors of the shipping spectrum – creating a mini-maritime cluster – together with representatives of the social, political and military sectors, were entertained on the lawn of the residence, taking part, as usual, in most interesting exchanges – the best networking by far in this year’s Posidonia! This event is exactly the opposite to many events that take place during the special week, by ensuring that everybody met everybody!
The Minister of Mercantile Marine and the Aegean Miltiadis Varvitsiotis was there as well as the Commandant of the Hellenic Coast Guard and Harbour Corps Vice Admiral Athanassios Athanassopoulos. Vice Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, Chief of Hellenic Navy’s General Staff, was there too, a great supporter of the maritime world – after all the Navy’s contribution is to safeguard the seven seas, particularly these days with piracy and terrorism rampant (operation Atlanta et al), Anjie Hartmann from Star Bulkers (newly elected Chairman of WISTA-Hellas), Navigator’s Managing Director Danae Bezantakos, PPA’s Stavros Hatzakos, Chandris’ Managing Director Marcos A. Foros – an important member too of the International Propeller Club, Andreas Stylianopoulos from Navigator Travel & Tourist Services Ltd, Dimitris J. Fafalios from Fafalios and member of the Propeller Club, , lawyer Gregory Timagenis and member of the Propeller Club, Theo Kontes of Majestic Cruises – member of the Propeller Club, the eloquent lawyer and CSR specialist Yanna Pavlopoulou, member of the Propeller C;lub too, Kaminco’s Sotiris Kaminis with his son George, now Managing Director of Kaminco USA, Stephanos Kostopoulos, the iconic Andreas Potamianos, Dynacom’s George Prokopiou with his blue cap, Prof. Sotiris Theophanis – former head of the PPA and specialist in everything to do with ports and logistics, yachtsman Terry Tsafos, Themis Vokos – the Mr. Posidonia (smiling as always), the Triphilis’, Yianna Th. Angelopoulos, Arista Shipping’s Alexander P. Panagopoulos – his father Pericles was there too. Environmentalists… made their presence felt with Dimitris C. Mitsatsos of HELMEPA in attendance. The shipbroking fraternity was there with Katerina I. Louvari of NILIMAR carrying the flag and with whom we extensively discussed the latest on the state of the shipping markets…
Prof. Sotiris Theofanis with Captain Christos Georgantzoglou
We also met and continued last Posidonia’s discussion with the Deputy Chief of Mission Virginia Bennett – hope to see her and her family on Chios, the world’s most powerful maritime island; extensively talked with George Frowick – the Cultural Attaché, Raymond Matera, the Strategic Communications Director of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, Captain Christos Georgantzoglou of Project Shipping; from the media world Gregory and Dawn Trauthwein of New Wave Media and last but not least, our Chiot compatriot Irene Ralli, Commercial Specialist from the U.S. Commercial Service, one of the first to greet us and the last to say good-bye all these years on similar occasions! Fairwell to Irene Ralli and a warm welcome to George Bonanos.
Katerina Louvari and Anjie Hartmann
As we mentioned during our 2012 Posidonia coverage, Greece and the United States of America have a long history of cooperation – shipping is the leading nucleus of this special relationship that few have understood or even realised how strong, mutual, trustful and projected to last it is: Greeks have “conquered” America centuries ago, Greeks over the last 200 years led American society in all posts – academia, business, science, health, politics to mention but a few; Greeks continue to call the shots in all aspects of the shipping industry and it is in Wall Street today where the brave Greek Masters of the Seven Seas are prominent in its best listed companies in NYSE and Nasdaq and continue with new listings! Ambassador Pearce’s short but to the point speech confirmed this is happening and we are all sure there is room for further such activity on to all fronts. Greece happens to be the USA’s strongest ally and staunch supporter of the Western values deriving from Classical Greece’s example and dominance until today! See you in 2016…
