Launching Event to recognize the ESG Shipping Excellence
The Launching Event of the ESG Shipping Awards 2023 under the auspices of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy as well as the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, was held on 17 January 2023 with a full house turnout, at the Goulandris Natural History Museum.
Government officials and senior representatives from the entire Greek Maritime Community were present at the Launch of the first ESG Shipping Awards globally.
The event opened with the hostesses Mrs. Helena Athoussaki and Mrs. Katerina Stathopoulou sharing the mission and vision of the initiative, followed by the inauguration speech of Mr. Ioannis Plakiotakis, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, where he remarked that
“Greek shipping leads the way in ESG & sustainable development” and continued “rewarding shipping companies with ESG criteria encourages the creation of best practices.”
Among the notable speakers, Dr George Pateras, President of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping said “the ESG shipping awards is a good vehicle to demonstrate the tremendous work which has been done for the environment and the people associated with the maritime transportation.”
In view of the increasing emphasis on ESG practices, Mr. Manolis Koutoulakis, General Secretary of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, emphasized the connection of ESG and public policy and how ESG criteria are integrated into investment decisions.
The nomination methodology was explained by Mrs. Helena Athoussaki, followed by Mr. Vassilis Ikonomidis, Managing Partner at VDI Law Firm where he presented the Governance rules of the ESG Shipping Awards.
Mr. Jan Fransen, Executive Director of the Green Award Foundation and a member of the judging committee commented: “I am very proud to be part of the judging committee, it is not an easy task but together with the other members we will succeed in selecting the ESG winners.”
The event ended with the speech of Mr. Dimitris Koutsopoulos, CEO of Deloitte Greece, the sole Anchor Award Partner, “we were engaged from the start with the ESG Shipping Awards because we share the same vision and we trust that it can help companies towards ESG improvement.”
The event was sponsored by Deloitte Greece, Eurobank and Marshall Islands Registry and supported by HELMEPA, Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association, WISTA Hellas, ATHEX Group, Propeller Club Port of Piraeus and the Association of Banking and Financial Executives of Hellenic Shipping.
The person responsible for the organization of the event was Ms. Stelina Markoulaki and for the production was Ms. Katerina Vasilaki.
