Best Industry Practices – Building Long Term Value Through Sustainability
The 15th Annual Capital Link Operational Excellence in Shipping Forum is held in partnership with ABS & in cooperation with HELMEPA on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at the Divani Caravel Hotel in Athens, Greece.
With a 15-year track record, this Forum stands as the premier event dedicated to showcasing operational excellence in the maritime industry. It explores best practices across all critical areas, including fleet management, technological innovation, crewing, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, as well as safety and security.
FORUM AGENDA
REGISTRATION & BREAKFAST
8:45 – 9:30 AM
| Sponsored by: |  |
WELCOME REMARKS
9:30 – 9:35 AM
- Mr. Nicolas Bornozis, President – Capital Link, Inc.
- Ms. Olga Stavropoulou, Director General – HELMEPA
OPENING KEYNOTE REMARKS
9:35 – 9:40 PM
- Mr. Christopher J. Wiernicki, Chairman and CEO – ABS
THE DEBATE ON NET ZERO –
NAVIGATING BETWEEN AMBITION AND REALITY
9:40 – 10:20 AM
Moderator: Mr. Christopher J. Wiernicki, Chairman and CEO – ABS
Panelists:
- Mr. Roel Hoenders, Head of Climate Action and Clean Air, Marine Environment Division – IMO
- Mr. Philippos Philis, Chairman & CEO – Lemissoler Navigation Co. Ltd; President – ECSA European Shipowners (2022-2024)
- Ms. Ioanna Procopiou, Managing Director – Prominence Maritime; President Designate – BIMCO; Member of the Board – Union of Greek Shipowners
- Ms. Charis Plakantonaki, Chief Strategy Officer – Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (NASDAQ: SBLK)
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & MARITIME TRANSFORMATION
10:25 – 11:05 AM
Moderator: Mr. Spyridon Zolotas, Vice President, South Europe, Marine – RINA
Panelists:
- Mr. Richard Buckley, Founder & CEO – 90 Percent of Everything (90POE)
- Mr. Alex Hadjipateras, COO – Dorian LPG Ltd. (NYSE: LPG)
- Ms. Eleni Polychronopoulou, President – Erma Tech Group; BoD Member – HELMEPA
- Mr. Theo G. Baltatzis, General Manager – Technomar Shipping
- Mr. Tim Ponath, CEO – NSB Group
CHARTING A COURSE FOR OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE:
BALANCING SAFETY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND EFFICIENCY
11:10 – 11:50 AM
Moderator: Mr. George M. Teriakidis, Regional Manager, Southeast Europe – DNV Maritime
Panelists:
- Mr. Mark O’Neil, President & CEO – Columbia Group; President – InterManager (2020-2024)
- Mr. Dimitris Vastarouchas, Chief Operating Officer & Vice President – Danaos Corporation (NYSE: DAC)
- Mr. Evangelos Sfakiotakis, Chief Operating Officer – Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX)
- Mr. Dimitris Patrikios, Managing Director – V.Ships Greece
KEYNOTE REMARKS
11:55 – 12:05 PM
Minister Vasilis Kikilias
Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy
Hellenic Republic
KEYNOTE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
12:10 – 12:45 PM
Moderator: Mr. Christopher J. Wiernicki, Chairman and CEO – ABS
Panelists:
- Mr. Paolo d’Amico, Chairman – INTERTANKO (2018-2024); Chairman – d’Amico International Shipping S.A. (BIT:DIS; OTCQX: DMCOF)
- Mr. Dimitrios Fafalios, Chairman – INTERCARGO (2019-2024); President / Director – Fafalios Shipping S.A.; Secretary of the Board of Directors – Union of Greek Shipowners
- Ms. Karrie Trauth, Executive Vice President Shipping and Maritime – Shell plc; Vice President – UK Chamber of Shipping
THE “2025 MARITIME SUSTAINABILITY AWARD”
12:45 – 1:05 PM
Presented to both:
Mr. Paolo d’Amico Chairman INTERTANKO (2018-2024) Chairman d’Amico International Shipping S.A. (BIT:DIS; OTCQX: DMCOF) | Mr. Dimitrios Fafalios Chairman INTERCARGO (2019-2024) President / Director Fafalios Shipping S.A. Secretary of the Board of Directors Union of Greek Shipowners |
- Introduced by: Dr. Nikolas P. Tsakos, Founder & CEO – TEN Ltd. (NYSE: TEN); Chairman – INTERTANKO (2014-2018)
- Introduced by: Mr. John Xylas, Chairman – INTERCARGO; President and CEO – Ariston Navigation Corp.; Member of the Board – Union of Greek Shipowners
FLEET RENEWAL IN A STATE OF FLUX:
DECODING REGULATIONS, FUELS, TECHNOLOGY & GEOPOLITICS
2:20 – 3:00 PM
Moderator: Mr. Andy McKeran, Chief Commercial Officer – Lloyd’s Register
Panelists:
- Dr. George D. Pateras, Deputy Chairman – Contships Management Inc; President – Hellenic Chamber of Shipping (2016-2025)
- Mr. Marcos C. Vassilikos, Managing Director – Eurobulk
- Mr. Georgios Plevrakis, Senior Advisor – Head of Business Development Strategy and Market Development Europe – Hanwha Shipping
- Dr. Loukas Barmparis, President – Safe Bulkers, Inc. (NYSE: SB)
- Mr. George Saroglou, President & Chief Operating Officer – TEN Ltd. (NYSE: TEN)
SHAPING THE FUTURE: NEXT-GEN SHIPS AND POWER OF
MARITIME INNOVATION DRIVEN BY DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
3:00 – 3:15 PM
Presented By: Dr. Toshiro Arima, Executive Vice President – ClassNK
SECURING THE MARITIME WORKFORCE OF TODAY & TOMORROW:
STRATEGIES FOR RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, TRAINING & WELLBEING
3:20 – 4:00 PM
Panelists:
- Capt. Panagiotis Drosos, Managing Director – Capital Ship Management Corp.
- Ms. Amalia Marcou, Crewing Director – Enesel
- Ms. Metaxia Psalti, COO – Neda Maritime Agency Co. Ltd.; Vice Chair – INTERCARGO
- Mr. Marinos Kokkinis, Managing Director – OneCare Group
FROM CADET TO CAPTAIN – REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE
THE SEAFARERS’ PERSPECTIVE
4:05 – 4:40 PM
Moderator: Ms. Venetia Kallipolitou, Maritime Training and Education Advisor – Tsakos Group; Commander – Hellenic Coast Guard (Retired)
Panelists:
- Captain
- Second Engineer
- Junior Officer
- Electrotechnical Officer
- Cadet
All seafarers from the Tsakos Group
| PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER – SHIPOWNERS’ ROUNDTABLE COMPETITIVENESS & OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE4:45 – 5:25 PMModerator: Ms. Paillette Palaiologou, Senior Vice President M&O East Europe, Mediterranean Sea, Middle East, Africa & India (EMA) – Bureau Veritas Panelists:Mr. Antonis Kanellakis, Managing Director – Alpha Bulkers Shipmanagement Inc; Member of the Board – Union of Greek ShipownersMs. Semiramis Paliou, Chief Executive Officer – Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX); Chairperson – HELMEPA & INTERMEPA; Member of the Board – Union of Greek ShipownersMr. Paolo Enoizi, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer – GasLogMr. Thomas Lister, Chief Executive Officer – Global Ship Lease, Inc. (NYSE: GSL) |
| Sponsors: |
Venue
Divani Caravel Hotel – Athens, Greece
Leof. Vasileos Alexandrou 2, Athina 161 21, Greece
Telephone: +30 21 0720 7000
For more information, please contact Eleni Bej at ebej@capitallink.com
For more information about the venue site, visit:
https://divanicaravelhotel.com/
Contacts
For sponsorship and speaking opportunities, please contact: Nicolas Bornozis, Olga Bornozi or Anny Zhu at forum@capitallink.com or call 212.661.7566.
For more information, please contact: Eleni Bej at ebej@capitallink.com or call 212.661.7566.
