2day Seminar On Chios Island 11898

Athens, 28 September 2009 HELMEPA Seminar on Chios Island

P R E S S R E L E A S E

A two-day seminar under the title “Environmental Spirit in the Management and Operation of the Vessel” was successfully organized by HELMEPA on 24 and 25 September 2009 on the Island of Chios. The 51 participants came from associate corporate members Chandris Hellas Inc., Chartworld Shipping, Chios Navigation, Fafalios Shipping, Niovis Shipping, Siomar Enterprises, Tsakos Shipping and Vrontados S.A. as follows: 26 engineer officers, 20 deck officers, 3 seafarers of other specialties and 2 company staff members. In addition, HELMEPA was glad to receive 8 students and trainers of the Merchant Marine Academy. The participants were welcomed by Mr. Dimitris Mitsatsos, HELMEPA’s Director General, who emphasized the importance of the human factor for the protection of the marine environment. Staff members of the Association’s Maritime Training Center analyzed contemporary issues relating to shipping and the environment such as ballast water management, air pollution and climate change, prevention of pollution from oil and chemicals, while there was also a presentation on the international legal framework regulating the protection of the marine environment from ship-source pollution. Of special interest was the presentation by Mr. Michalis Sigalas of Hellenic Lloyd’s S.A of the 2006 Marine Labor Convention and of the forthcoming changes to the seafaring profession. HELMEPA is grateful to Mr. Sigalas and the Hellenic Lloyd’s for their kind contribution. The seminar was warmly received by the local maritime community, while the participants expressed their support for HELMEPA’s initiative and their belief that HELMEPA seminars should also be organized at other common places of residence for seafarers. HELMEPA would like to thank its Founding Member “Chandris Hellas” for kindly hosting our staff and the whole event at the Chandris Hotel in the city of Chios.