Metropolitan College’s Maritime Academy, successfully, organized the 2nd International Conference on Maritime Education with the participation and contribution of international and local leading personalities of major shipping companies and industry stakeholders.
“The Challenges of Educating the Seafarer of 2030” was the conference’s main theme and was developed in 4 discussion panels. The Conference took place at Eugenides’ Foundation Lecture Hall covering and revealing new aspects extremely interesting, contemporary issues that attracted dozens of professionals and students coming from the shipping and maritime industry.
Professor Dinos Arcoumanis, Chairman of the Academic Board, Metropolitan College, opened the Conference and welcomed the participants, mentioning the need for well-trained seafarers: “Crew in ships are handling sophisticated equipment […] so ignorance is not allowed in today’s sea men. It is, therefore, sensible to argue that we need to invest in education, both in the public and the private sector”.
Mr. Leonidas Dimitriadis-Eugenides, President of Eugenides Foundation, also made an opening remark and, mentioning the importance of life-long learning, he said: “Greek shipping leadership could not have been achieved without the support, the hard work and the perseverance of the Greek seafarers. The adaptation of young seafarers training to the modern requirements of the shipping industry, where technology is a key factor, there is major need for continuous training. The Metropolitan College, in co-orporation with the United Kingdom, namely Solent University and with the renown Warsash Maritime Academy, built a partnership providing an excellent opportunity to European students”.
1st discussion panel’s speakers, Mr. Apostolos Belokas (Managing Editor, SAFETY4SEA), Capt. Michail Fragkias (Senior Marine Advisor, SUN Enterprises), Mrs. Sue Harland (Senior Lecturer, Warsash School of Maritime Science & Engineering) and Capt. George Tsouris (Representative, Masters & Mates Union of Greek Merchant Marine / Operations Manager and DPA-CSO, Blue Planet Shipping Ltd), along with Vice Admiral Antonis Vidalis (Head of Metropolitan College Maritime Academy) as a Moderator, analyzed the optimization of the seafarers’ resilience.
During the 2nd panel session, consisted of Mr. Vassilios Dimoulas (Technology & Innovation Manager, Greece Cyprus & Malta, Bureau Veritas), Mr. Panagiotis Mitrou (Technology & Innovation Manager for Marine & Offshore in South Europe, Lloyd’s Register), Mr. Giannis Moraitakis (Senior Business and Sales Development Manager, Electrical & Automation Expert, WARTSILA), Mr. Jason Stefanatos (Senior Research Engineer, DNV GL) and Mrs Mary Pothitos (Paralegal Maritime Services) as a moderator covered issues concerning the digital awareness and technology evolution, as well as, the essential preparation and adaptation process which have to be made for the new seafarers.
The 3rd discussion panel, consisted of the following speakers, Professor Dinos Arcoumanis (Chairman of the Academic Board, Metropolitan College), Mr. Nick Contopoulos (COO, Αnemoi Marine Technologies), Dr. John Kokarakis (Technical Director, Bureau Veritas), Mr. Panos Zachariadis (Member of Technical Committee, HELMEPA / Technical Director, Atlantic Bulk Carriers) and Dr. Marina Papaioannou (Manager Maritime Academy Greece, DNV GL) as a moderator, aimed to inform the Conference’s participants about the latest news on environmental protection issues.
Last, but not least, the future of maritime employability was fully covered by the 4th discussion panel’s speakers who were Mr. Dimitris Patrikios (CEO, Kyklades Maritime Corporation), Dr. Konstantinos Poulis (General Manager, Epsilon Hellas), Mr. George Tsavliris (Principal, Tsavliris Salvage Group), Mr. Kostas Vlachos (Managing Director, Latsco Marine Management) and Mr. Ilias Bissias (Director, Naftika Chronika & Isalos.net) as a Moderator.
