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With celebratory participation and a quorum that exceeded the historic threshold of 2,392 authorized votes, HELMEPA’s 47th General Assembly successfully took place on Thursday 13 November 2025, hosted at the Onassis Foundation. Chairperson Ms Semiramis Paliou stated: "HELMEPA’s work is the work of all of us: members, volunteers—young and old—partners, and of course the HELMEPA team, our Board of Directors, and Secretariat. Every year, we break the previous year’s record with

PRESS RELEASE Within the framework of the European project EXCEED , which aims to strengthen the Centers of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) and to connect education and the labor market through innovative skills development programs, the Port of Elefsina welcomed fifty European experts. The visit took place on October 17, 2025 and was co-organized by the Elefsis Port Authority   S.A.  and the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA),  marking a fruitful part

The region’s shipping community is increasingly aware of the need to cut emissions and is taking steps towards decarbonization. While progress is uneven, responses from shipping companies, ports, suppliers, and civil society point to both growing awareness and readiness to act, particularly in relation to skills, safety, infrastructure, and alternative fuels.   These are the findings of Wave 1 of the large-scale METAVASEA survey , conducted between June and November 2024 prio

As national partner of the “Nauticinblu Europe” project, HELMEPA engaged 173 students from Nautical High Schools across Greece in expert-led seminars and interactive workshops. The participants explored ocean literacy, climate change, and the blue economy, gaining the tools to connect future maritime careers with environmental responsibility.   “Nauticinblu Europe” is a cross-border initiative involving Nautical Institutes from Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Spain, ideated and

Every seafarer deserves a safe, respectful, and inclusive working environment.   Today we join the IMO and the global maritime community, and we honor the dedication of seafarers by supporting this year’s Day of the Seafarer theme: “My Harassment-Free Ship.”     With 15,000 member seafarers and maritime professionals, #HELMEPA empowers crews through continuous training and a strong safety culture via the HELMEPA Academy.   We train and reskill more than 3,500 seafarers annua

Blue Horizons: η νέα γενιά γνωρίζει τη ναυτιλία και εμπνέεται από τη θάλασσα Περισσότεροι από 320 νέοι και νέες από όλες τις βαθμίδες...

In a key milestone for maritime decarbonization, the Port of Thessaloniki (ThPA S.A.) has become the first port in the EU and the Mediterranean to integrate RightShip’s Maritime Emissions Portal (MEP) under the HELMEPA-led METAVASEA project, with the support of Lloyd’s Register Foundation.     Through this one-year pilot, Thessaloniki sets a new regional benchmark for sustainability, providing critical insights into value chain (Scope 3) emissions and enabling targeted, data-

The visit of the Shipping Deputy Minister of Cyprus, Marina Hadjimanolis, to HELMEPA's offices on September 19th, 2024, underscores and further strengthens the long-standing cooperation between Greece and Cyprus on ocean protection and sustainability issues in the critical shipping sector. HELMEPA's Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors, George Karageorgiou, welcomed the Shipping Deputy Minister of Cyprus, Marina Hadjimanolis, along with members of the Board of Directors

Introducing the She4Sea profiling tool, offering new career opportunities for women in the Blue Economy. Tailored for both unemployed women and active professionals seeking career advancement, this innovative tool provides insights into marine industry roles that align with their skills and career goals across three main sectors: maritime transport, fisheries and aquaculture, and water-based tourism. By undergoing a self-assessment that highlights their soft and hard skills,

The Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA), one of the most impactful environmental organizations, and SQLearn, the specialized maritime online training provider, proudly announce that the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) online training offered in the context of their collaborative effort has received approval by the Cyprus Maritime Administration. Three STCW courses on safety and security onboard, designed and

HELMEPA's impactful presence at Posidonia 2024 was a resounding success, resonating both on shore and at sea. Centered around the theme "Shipping Resilience to Climate Change," the conference convened over 500 maritime leaders on World Environment Day to address pressing environmental challenges and advocate for sustainable practices. This landmark event underscored the urgent need for the shipping industry to address climate change, emphasizing its commitment to environmenta

130 Greek Nautical High School students participated in a series of seminars and workshops on ocean and climate awareness and the blue economy as part of the “Nauticinblu” Project, enhancing their understanding of the complex relationship between economic growth, biodiversity impacts, and the needed transition to more sustainable operations. Nauticinblu involves Nautical Institutes in Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Spain and is run by the Italian non-profit environmental organi

Enhanced safety culture for maritime decarbonization requires the cultivation and development of soft skills, as well as the continuous training and retraining of employees in new technologies, according to the conclusions of the workshop organized by the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA) in collaboration with Piraeus Port Authority (PPA S.A.) with extensive participation of employees and executives of PPA S.A. and other Greek ports, as well as repr

The largest ever HELMEPA Members Delegation traveled to the US and engaged in a series of productive meetings with the leadership of the United States Coast Guard, NAMEPA, and other stakeholders in Washington DC to advance pollution prevention, safety at sea, and sustainable development in the era of maritime decarbonization.     Led by HELMEPA Chairperson Semiramis Paliou, and joined by Board Members Maria Hajioannou, Panos Zachariadis, and Theodosis Stamatelos, the HELMEPA

Landmark visit of IMO General Secretary Arsenio Dominguez and WMU President Prof. Max Mejia to HELMEPA highlights the long-standing partnership and shared efforts for safe ships, with skilled and competent crews sailing in healthy oceans. For the first time on 8 February 2024, Mr. Arsenio Dominguez visited the Association’s premises, marking another milestone in HELMEPA’s 42-year history dedicated to healthy seas, safety at sea, and sustainable development. The Chairperson,

120 Greek and Italian Nautical High School students participated in a series of seminars on ocean and climate awareness as part of the ‘Ride the Wave’ program. The educational material was developed by scientists, educators, and representatives from organizations in the blue economy sector and is now available to Nautical Schools. Specifically designed for Nautical Vocational Schools, the program focused on disseminating scientific knowledge and promoted a deeper understand