The Cutting of the traditional New Year’s Vasilopita cake, a long-standing custom of the Greeks, took place on Friday the 30th January 2026 at the Grand Hyatt Athens and was attended by many members and friends of Chios Marine Club. The event coincided with the 25th anniversary of the club. It was a great honor to present an anniversary Special Edition specially created by the club.
General Secretary of the club Miss Maria Tripoliti welcomed the guests and outlined the order of proceedings. Thereafter, the club president, Capt. Antonis Pitsilos took the podium welcoming the honourees and all participants. He referred to the scope and charitable work of the club, emphasizing:΄΄Twenty-five years is not a plain number. It shows a journey filled with vision, collective effort and deep faith in the maritime tradition of Chios Island.Τhe Chios Marine Club still goes on to the future honouring its heritage, maintaining its tradition of unity and contribution with Chios Island, the shipping community and shipping industry΄΄.
Capt. Pitsilos presented the review of the club’s 2025 activities. Following his remarks, the event continued with the award of honorary plaques to the 29 Founding Members and the Former Presidents of the club for their vision, their contribution to the founding and establishment of the club as a point of reference in the shipping community.
The Vasilopita was blessed by the Senior Priest, Father Dimitrios Balkanas. The winners of the vasilopita raffles received gift vouchers from Αttica-Athens department store and free ferry tickets offered by Blue Star Ferries and Hellenic Seaways. The versatile modern soprano Anastasia Zannis delighted the audience with her live performance.
Among those honouring the event with their presence were:
Georgios Alexandratos (President of Hellenic Chamber of Shipping), Georgios Barcatsas (Director General of Hellenic Chamber of Shipping), the Special Secretary for Hydraulic Works and Buildings at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Haralampos Migdalis, the director of the Secretariat at the Deputy Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, Vice Admiral (Rt.HN) Athanassios Makris, Georgios Kalogerakis (Vice Admiral, Hellenic Coast Guard) Representating of the Deputy Minister of Shipping & Insular Policy, Danae Bezantakou (A’ Vice President of International Propeller Club, Port of Piraeus), George Xiradakis (President of the Association of Banking and Financial Executives of Hellenic Shipping), the Director for Shipping Sector at the Republic of Cyprus’ Embassy in Athens, Christos Karitzis, Vice Admiral.
Also, present were (HCG) Trifon Contizas (Commandant of the Hellenic Coast Guard), Vice Admiral (HCG) Fotios Kiamos (2nd Deputy Commandant of the Hellenic Coast Guard), Leonidas Manolakos (Deputy Governor of Attika/ Alternate Prefect of Political Protection and Coast Guard Policy), Rear Admiral HCG, Christos Fragkias, Director of Shipping Branch / Head of Shipping Branch, Captain (HCG) Antonios Doumanis (Director of Seafarers’ Training Directorate),the Harbour Master of Piraeus’ Central PORT, Captain (HCG) Michalis Ktenas, Nikolaos Attaliotis (Executive Vice President of the Board of Director, Regulatory Authority for Ports), the Commander of KESEN Macedonia, Lieutenant Commander (HCG) Fotini Preka, Vasilis Tefas, Vice President of the Association of Greek Marinas, the Hellenic Navy’s Submarine Commander Georgios Baracos.
Vice Admiral (Rt. HCG) Ioannis Karageorgopoulos, Lieutenant Commander (HCG) Sapfo Kouni, Director General of the Hellenic Mariner’s Retirement Fund Georgia Maniati, the director-general of the Hellenic Short-Sea Shipowners UNION, Ms Danae Tsopela, Μetaxia Psalti, INTERCARGO’s Vice President, Pantelis Legatos (President of Chios Chamber of Commerce & President of Chios’ Port Fund), the Vice-president of the Commerial and Industrial Chamber of Piraeus, Konstantinos Achladitis – also BoD member of the Chios Marine Club.
Konstantinos Papageorgiou (president of the Hellenic Logistics Company – EEL), Theodosis Stamatelos (Director, Lloyd’s Register, Greece), Georgios Andreadis (Marine Chief Executive for Greece, Bureau Veritas), Ioannis Theotokas (Head of the Department of Shipping Trade and Transport at the University of Piraeus), Ioannis Lagoudis (Vice president of the Department of Shipping Trade and Transport at the University of Piraeus), Prof. Seraphim Kapros (Head of the Department of Shipping Trade and Transport at the University of the Aegean – Director of the MBA in Shipping), Capt. Helen Papadopoulou (General Secretary of Panhellenic Association of Merchant Navy Masters – PEPEN), Capt. Panagis Tzortzatos (Director of Cosmos Training Center in Piraeus & Chios Island), Vivi Koliopoulou (President of WISTA Hellas), Samantha Loundarou (Treasurer of WISTA Hellas), Elena Athoussaki (President of ESG Shipping Awards), Mariella Varoni (President of Chian Associations in Attica), Ioannis Kotsanis (President of Union of Vrontadoussians in Attica – EVAT), Nikos Archontos (President of Psara Island’s Brotherhood) and Maria Mpri Papamakariou (President of Pyrgi Village Association in Attica).
The Event honored many representatives of the Chios Marine Club’s Company Members and also representatives of the entire maritime media. Our Guests received free of charge the Club’s 2026 Desk Diary, being distributed free of charge by Golden Cargo S.A. to Members, Company Members and Friends of the Club.
Finally, the President Capt. Antonis Pitsilos and the Board of Directors of Chios Marine Club, warmly thanked all Guests, the Donors and Supporters who contributed to this Event as well as the Donors supporting the creation of our 25 Years Anniversary Special Edition, wishing all a Year full of Health and Progress!
