by John Faraclas
A full house – over 200 people, comprising many of today’s prominent members of Greece’s three-century-plus strong London shipping fraternity and other shipping leaders – attended yesterday at lunchtime this special annual event in London’s iconic Trinity House…
As mentioned in previous coverage, this annual Vassilopita event – the cutting of the traditional Greek New Year’s cake, is now more than an established event in the City, paying respect to the Greeks, their tradition, success and maritime values.
It was the first event of its kind for the new era in the sense that for the last couple of years same was online due to Covid – an excellent though online event it was, with LR’s CEO Nick Brown performing the ceremony in more than excellent fashion!
A warm welcome by Nicki Kotsovolou and Nicola Trett as I entered with Denis Petropoulos, calmed me down given that I was slightly late…due to the traffic jam in the area blamed on roadworks, accidents and delays with the Tube; most guests though managed to arrive on time and participate in the pre-event drinks and intense networking until almost everybody invited arrived.
As on previous occasions, Nick Brown delivered a short speech on the general situation of the industry in difficult times, but also the progress and further development of LR. He successfully did the rituals pronouncing superbly the traditional Greek wishes! Holding the knife, he made the three crosses – then the first four slices: First for Jesus, Second for St Nicholas, Third for Greek shipping in general and the Fourth for Lloyd’s Register!
Many stakeholders from the world’s most important industry were present in the Trinity House Library Room: Shipowners, Shipmanagers, Shipbrokers, Shipyard Representatives, Lawyers, Marine Consultants, Marine Equipment specialists, Diplomats, Media Consultants and Journalists, Associations and Organisations, Coast Guard Officers, Marine Engineers, as well as Charity representatives and Educational specialists, Trade Analysts, Bankers and Finance brokers, Marine Insurance specialists, you name it they were all there; a great gathering at Trinity House like never before!
From the small mezzanine inner balcony – the gallery as it is known, the children’s chorus from the Hellenic College sang the traditional Greek and English carols – a very touching moment! What a warm and continuous applause that was following the four songs performed by those young pupils aged between six and twelve!
Harry J. Fafalios from Fafalios Shipbrokers and chairman of the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee (GSCC) with Commodore (Rt. HCG) Costas Amarantides – the Committee’s Director with his wife Tenia Koronaiou from the Greek Embassy’s Shipping office, and Dimitri N. Monioudis of R&K and president of HESGB led the guests.
Among the international guests we spotted the Secretary-General of the IMO Kitack-Lim with Media and Communications Officer Natasha Brown, the former chairman of the Baltic Exchange Denis Petropoulos, and banker Aggeliki Koutoulia from J.Safra Sarasin Bank in Luxemburg…
Chandris’ Alex Xenakis attended too as did Paris Magriotis from London Overseas Consultants (LOC), John M. Hadjipateras and John P. Hadjipateras of John C. Hadjipateras & Sons Ltd – John M. being also the president of the Oinoussai Benevolent Fund, Kostas Ladas from LISCR London, George Papadakis from A.P & A, Vasso Giadikaroglou-Souvalioti from Intermarine, Lambros Varnavides former head of RBS’s Shipping Division and now chairman of Lloyd’s Register Foundation were also present.
John Vanezos from IACS was as ever there – normally doesn’t miss any such event, Nicholas Skinitis, Dr. Kostas Gkonis secretary-general of Intercargo, Nick Contopoulos of Anemoi Marine Technology, Spyros Contopoulos and Leonardos Andrelos from Victoria Steamship, Yiannis Konstantoulakis, technical Manager from Seven Seas Maritime, George Foustanos from Andros Maritime, Leon Papazoglou of CLP marine Consultancy, Takis Markatos general manager at Lyras Maritime Ltd, journalist Jonathan Saul from Reuters…
Captain (HCG) Angeliki Iatropoulou, the Hellenic Maritime Attaché together with Commander (HCG) Panagiota Koutra, the deputy Hellenic Maritime Attaché and Greece’s IMO Alt. Permanent Representative; from Zodiac Maritime Dimitra Kazantza, Sofia Palla, and Alexia Veinoglou – sea-maiden power!
The Lloyd’s Register teams from UK and Greece were in full force.
The Greek team headed by Theodosis Stamatellos, the Marine & Offshore Regional Manager, South Europe, Nicholas Kakalis LR’s Global Bulk Carriers Segment Director and special secretary of the Chios Marine Club, Anthi Miliou, head of Sales – In service and Matina Petrou, South Europe New Constructions Sales Lead. The Greek office is possibly the most powerful one all over Planet Ocean dealing with the world’s biggest fleet…
The UK team, obviously headed by CEO Nick Brown, included: Nicola Good, External Communications Director, Philippa Charlton, Chief Marketing Officer, Patty Apostolopoulou, Marine Client Manager EMEA, Elina V. Papageorgiou, director Maritime Strategic Growth, Claudene Sharp-Patel, Technical Director, Matt Treadwell, UKI lead, Shipping Markets & Zero Carbon Solutions, Mike Holliday, UK&I Area manager, Marine & Offshore, Dominic Miller, UKI Area Commercial Manager, George St. Georgandis, Business Development Manager, and others…
No lucky punter was announced for winning the golden sovereign… even as you read these lines 24 hours after the event…
Whilst leaving Trinity house, interesting and valued gifts for the occasion were given to all guests by LR’s Vicky Kotsovolou and Nicola Trett which included a desk diary and a pomegranate for good luck to be hung at home or in office. We look forward to many more Lloyd’s Register events, which boost the morale of all involved in the shipping adventure, particularly in these difficult times we witness with the Ukrainian mess, Covid and other health trials, falling dry markets and the struggle to comply with environmental “obligations” to save Planet Ocean…!
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Update 06 Feb 2023:
At last we found out that Marianna Dimitriou of Oceonix Services Limited won the sovereign!!
