Archbishop Gregorius, second from the left, blessing the Vassilopittas. To his right, GSCC chairman Harry J. Fafalios, IMO’s Secretary-General Kitack Lim, the Ambassador of Greece, the Cyprus High Commisioner, the GSCC director Costas Amarantides and other guests
Once again more than 200 members and guests attended the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee’s (GSCC) traditional Vassilopitta annual ceremony at the Baltic Exchange, with Archbishop Gregarious of Thyateira and Great Britain officiating last night.
Blessing the four Vassilopittas His Eminence gave his wish for good health and continuous success and development of the GSCC members and all present there, as well as for the heads of States and governments of the United Kingdom and Greece. Many followed the Archbishop’s initiation and sang the day’s and event’s psalms; a great chorus!
Thereafter Committee Chairman Harry J. Fafalios, delivered an excellent message – as always short and to the point.
One of the first to arrive was Lloyd’s Register Marine Manager Tom Boardley and Anny Zade from allaboutshipping.co. uk
The Chairman focused on the contribution of seafarers to the shipping adventure and support to Greece’s ailing economy, the tax regimes like last year, but pleased to announce and endorse the latest reply by the UGS (Union of Greek Shipowners) in Athens against the decision of the European Commission on Tax issues and Greek Shipping, coinciding with the Union’s Centenary, the adverse situation in the shipping markets including that of ship finance, the situation in Greece following one year under Greece’s new regime and the suffering of the Greek people, the Migrants Saga and other developments in the Shipping Industry.
The Chairman of GSCC Harry J. Fafalios delivering his speech
Good for all to hear that despite the prolonged crisis, the Greek fleet and its shipowners continue to maintain their lead; a powerful message for Greece’s government and all parliamentarians He also paid tribute to Sylvana James, the former secretary at GSCC’s administration who passed away last summer having served at the Committee for nearly 38 years! He was warmly applauded by the members and guests! The Committee has recently celebrated its 80th Anniversary (1935 -2015)
IMO’s Secretary-General Kitack Lim and Thimio Mitropoulos listening to Simon Palios
The Greek Ambassador Constantine Bikas, The Cyprus High Commissioner Euripides L. Evriviades, the Greek Maritime Attaché Captain (HCG) Dimosthenis Botsis and his assistant Antonios Doumanis both officers from the Hellenic Coast Guard, the Consul General of Greece Sotirios Demestichas, the Trade/Commercial Attaché Antonis Katepodis and Captain (HN) Harris Zissimopoulos, the Greek Defence Attaché, were there too!
John Ghikas Goumas, Matheos T. Los and Lambros Varnavides
Thimio E. Mitropoulos, former Secretary-General Emeritus of the IMO and now at Maria Tsakos’ Foundation was there, as well as the newly elected Secretary-General Kitack Lim having interesting discussions with the towering Simon P. Palios the CEO of Diana Shipping Inc and Diana Containerships, two of Greece’s most successful listed companies in New York’s NYSE and NASDAQ Exchanges respectively!
Andreas A. Tsavliris and Aggeliki Koutoulia
Also attending the event was the former Union of Greece’s Shipowners president John Ghikas Goumas, a very interesting and down to earth person to talk with, banker Aggeliki Koutoulia from Commerzbank in Luxembourg escorted by her son Dimosthenis Zahariou, a student at Paris’ University, Faculty of Engineering and a prospective shipping man… and as always Hugo Wynn-Williams of the UK Club!
Dr. Aleka Mandaraka-Sheppard, Agapi Tarzis, Costas Amarantides and Stavriana Asprogiannidou
Present were also the members Baltic Exchange staff headed by its CEO Jeremy Penn, Lloyd’s Register’s Marine director Tom Broardley; LR’s EMEA Theodossis Stamatellos, John Dimitracopoulos with Costas Deilakis and Angeliki Schiza from the same society, Kirsi Tikka head of Europe from ABS and John Vanezos from IACS, as well as Dr. Abdul Rahim head of ClassNK’s London office.
Maria Syllignaki with Kirsi Tikka
Alexander Kedros and Alexios Scopelitis from Southern Shipping and Finance; former GSCC Chairman Pandi Empirikos from Empirikos in London, Spyros Polemis and his son Leonidas from Remi Maritime in Piraeus, John Tsatsas, the ever present Stavriana Asprogiannidou from Willis, and George Foustanos from Empirikos Shipping in London. Vasso Souvalioti form Intermarine London was there too, as well as Ilona Cornarou!
Petros Kontraros with Theodossis Stamatellos and John Dimitracopoulos from LR Piraeus
Markos and John M. Hadjipateras, Pantelis Hadjipateras, Stathes Kulukundis the head of R&K and Dimitris Monioudis (president of the HESGB) also from R&K, Mathew T. Los chairman of the West of England P&I Club, Joe Hughes from the American Club, Andreas A. Tsavliris from the Tsavliris Group, Andreas Bisbas from Tsakos’ London office, shipbroker Nicholas Skinitis from Hermes Shipbrokers, Antonis Alexandropoulos and Nikos Benetis from the RBS Shipping Group.
A view of the Royal Victoria room
Spotted also Lambros Varnavides, former head of the Shipping Division at the Royal Bank of Scotland, Dr. Aleka Mandaraka-Sheppard with her new PA Agapi Terzis, former Onassis’ financial accountant Panagiotis Voudris, Anastassis J. Fafalios from the Fafalios London office, John M. Lyras of Lyras Maritime Ltd, Takis N. Pappas from Silverstream Technologies, Ilias Tsakiris from American Hellenic, Prof. Costas Arkoumanis, Ambassador-at-large of the Hellenic Republic with responsibility for energy and new technologies and his son, Chandris’ Alex Xenakis, ICS’s Secretary-General, Peter Hinchliffe and Intercargo’s David H. Tongue.
Richard Coleman, Christoforos Coccolatos, Chryssa Papathanassiou and John C. Coccolatos
Captain Theo Lebessis and Sotiris Millissis from ELKA Shipping where there too, Captain (Rt.HCG) Elias Sampatakis from the Union of Greek Shipowners in Athens, Richard Coleman and Chryssa Papathanassiou from Clarksons Platou, former CEO of the London P&I Club Paul Hinton, Christoforos Coccolatos and his son John from Chios Navigation in London were also present.
Congratulations to Committee’s Director Commodore (Ret. HCG) Costas Amarantidis and Maria Syllignaki for organising the event; the excellent buffet and drinks and the very very tasty Vassilopittas – some had more than two pieces!
Dr. Abdul Rahim, John Vanezos and Dimitris Monioudis
Three lucky guests won the sovereign coins, Richard Coleman director from Clarksons Platou’s Sale and Purchase, Markos Hadjipateras and Grigoris Parissis from Hellenic Hull – good luck to all!
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