The cutting of the traditional Greek New Year’s Vassilopita of our Club took place on 25 January 2023 in Athens’ Marriott Hotel. A great number of members and friends of our Club attended same.
The event was dedicated to the Awarding on Excellence for the Year 2022 graduates from the Public Academies, AEN Oinousses – Ship Captain’s (Deck Officers) Academy, AEN Chios – Marine Engineering Academy and the University of the AEGEAN, Faculty of Shipping & Business Studies.
The event kick-started with the General Secretary of the Chios Marine Club Mrs. Maria Tripoliti welcoming the guests and referring to the detailed program of the event. Then the President of the CMC, Capt. Antonis Pitsilos, welcomed the honorees and all those present. He presented the review of 2022 activities and referred to the actual scope and social work of the Club. He also emphasized to the successful edition of the Calendar/Diary 2023 which was printed for the 13th consecutive year and is distributed free of charge to Members, Member Shipping Companies and Businesses related to the wider shipping industry. Finally he wished to all present, a prosperous New Year, fulfilled of success and good health.
Afterwards, a short video-greeting was presented by the Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy Mr. Ioannis Plakiotakis. Thereafter a greeting by the North Aegean Regional Governor, Prof. Konstantinos Moutzouris, was read by the General Secretary of our Club, Mrs. Maria Tripoliti.
The Vassilopita of our Club was blessed by the Metropolitan of Chios, Psara and Oinousses, Mr. Markos.
This was followed by the awards for excellence for 2022 to:
AEN Oinousses – Ship Captains Academy: Emmanouil Topakas, Nikolaos Kirkinezis, Dimitrios Tsakos
AEN Chios – Marine Engineering Academy: Alexandros Gerdani, Eleftherios Zafeiris, Georgios Kravaritis
UNIVERSITY of the AEGEAN Faculty of Shipping & Business Services: Revekka Kintoni, Christos Kazas, Angeliki Maria Skarvelaki
The honorary awards were accompanied by a prize of 500 euros for each graduate and given as a donation – sponsorship by Mrs. Alexandra Mamalinga – Prokopiou.
The event was also honored by the distinguished graduates of TEENS-Tsakos Hellenic School of Maritime Studies accompanied by the director of TEENS Ioannis Kokkas, Venetia Kallipolitou and members of the ΄΄Maria Tsakos΄΄ Foundation, as well as Chian executives of the Club. The graduates of the year 2022 were the following:
Ioanna Lemonia Mermygkousi, Ye Louisa, Eirini Mavriki, Maria Markella Epitropaki, Foteini Moisaki and Maria Kontokosta
Then the President Capt. Antonis Pitsilos honored by awarding honorary plaques to Mrs. Alexandra Mamalinga-Prokopiou and Mr. Orestis Varonis for their donations to our Club, for their charitable contribution to the Shipping Industry and their unique support to our Club over the years.
The lucky punter winning the Vassilopita coin (flouri in Greek), Mrs Eleni Sakellariou from Gratia Publications, was offered a gold sovereign by the Chios Marine Club.
Afterwards, a reception followed with light food and drinks.
Distinguished persons who honored our event and awarded the above prizes:
Τhe Metropolitan of Chios, Psara and Oinousses, Mr. Markos, Mr. Georgios Prokopiou, Mr. Dimitrios J. Fafalios (Chairman of Intercargo), Emilianos Evangelinos (Education Councilor of North Aegean Islands who represented the Minister of Immigration Policy Mr. Notis Mitarakis), Leonidas Dimitriadis-Eugenidis (Chairman of the Eugenides Foundation), Prof. Stamatios Krimizis (Astrophysicist & Nasa Scientist), Prof. Seraphim Kapros (Chairman of the Department of Shipping & Business Studies of the University of the Aegean – Director of the MBA in Shipping) and Georgios Daniil (Mayor of Oinousses Island).
In addition, the following honored the event with their presence:
Konstantinos Katsafados (Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy), Georgios Anomeritis (Former Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy), Andreas Michaelides (Syriza-PS MP for Chios), Nikolaos Manolakos (Lt. General (Rt)/Member of Greek Parliament, Piraeus Constituency), Vice Admiral (HCG) Ioannis G. Argyrakis (first vice commandant of HCG), Pantelis Bournias (Deputy Governor of North Aegean Islands), Radm Rt (HCG) Dimitrios Tsiadis, Aristos Perris – Brigadier General at HNDGN, Captain (HCG) Irini Argyri (Head of the Maritime Protection Department for the Environment), Stamatis Malelis (General Manager of Mega News & Information Agency), Ilias Hatziefraimidis (President of WIMA), Andreas Karagiorgis (President of Psara Island Brotherhood), Ioannis Gialas (President of EVAT).
Finally, the President Capt. Antonis Pitsilos and the Board of Directors warmly thanked all guests, members and friends for the honor by being present, wishing a year full of Good Health and Progress!
