Tag: HELMEPA

In an exclusive interview to SAFETY4SEA, Olga Stavropoulou, Director General of the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA), emphasizes that sustainable development is the global vision, and ESG serves as the tool to achieve it.

The Dubai Council for Marine & Maritime Industries announced collaboration with HELMEPA, to set up the first of its kind non-profit UAE Marine Environment Protection Association. The two parties signed a Declaration of Voluntary Commitment titled 'To Save the Marine Environment', based on HELMEPA’s 'To Save the Seas'.

The American P&I Club in cooperation with HELMEPA and in celebration and honor of Ocean Conservancy's 2016 International Coastal Clean-up, attracted over 80 volunteers for a beach cleaning event at Kavouri beach as a part of the voluntary actions’ campaign of HELMEPA for the marine environment that takes place every September.

The results of European Cleanup Day 2016 in Greece, which was coordinated by HELMEPA showed that cigarette butts and plastics are at the top of the list of litter items polluting our natural environment.

 On Monday, 24 November, HELMEPA presented its contemporary training initiatives to the broader shipping community. Among those who honored the event with their presence were the Minister of Shipping and the Aegean, Mr. M. Varvitsiotis, accompanied by the Leadership of the Hellenic Coast Guard, the up until just recently European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Ms M. Damanaki, the Ambassador to the Kingdom of Norway in Greece, Mr S. Larsen, the Administrative Attaché to the Embassy of Mexico in Greece, Ms R.M. Betancourt-Moreno, the President of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, Mr. G. Gratsos, the President of the Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association, Mr. Ch. Simantonis, members of HELMEPA΄s Board of Directors, Directors and staff of HELMEPA member-companies and organizations, as well as stakeholder representatives and members of the maritime Press. Welcoming the invited guests, HELMEPA Chairman, Dr J. Coustas, referred to the contribution of HELMEPA΄s refresher training towards the preservation of quality characteristics of Greek shipping. With the dawn of the new e-learning program, prepared in collaboration with the Associate Corporate member, DYNAMARINe, HELMEPA proceeds in unison alongside contemporary technologies, for the benefit of its members. In this way, it equips its members with the capacity to take advantage ...

HELMEPA’s seminar “Keeping abreast of Requirements; Ensuring Effective Environmental Management” was held in Piraeus on 4th-5th November and was kindly hosted in the auditorium of Associate Corporate Member Neda Maritime Agency. The seminar drew the participation of 33 individuals, comprising land-based staff and merchant marine officers from 13 HELMEPA member-companies, the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation and the Hellenic Coast Guard. Invited by HELMEPA, LCDR Christopher Brunclik, Chief, Inspections Department, Coast Guard Activities Europe, presented on the major Environmental Regulations with which foreign-flagged vessels must comply when sailing in US waters. Alternate Management Systems, the US Coast Guard’s ballast water management systems type-approval process, Vessel General Permit, as well as the requirements relevant to low sulphur fuels available on vessels entering the North American ECA, were among the key issues that dominated the discussions that ensued. Members of the audience benefited from clarifications on topics pertinent to the implementation of Regulations and the exchange of opinions and experiences. Participants were also further updated on various developments across a series of topics presented by expert HELMEPA member-company speaker-representatives; in particular, Ms P Chrysanthi, QSE Manager & DPA–EMR at Andriaki Shipping, presented on the proper maintenance of the Oil Record Book, Mr S Petronios, ...

On Wednesday, 29 October 2014, the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association-HELMEPA unveiled its revamped "Marine Environment - Shipping - Sciences" Exhibition in the Piraeus Port Authority΄s Events Hall. Chairman of HELMEPA΄s Board of Directors, Dr John Coustas, noted the significance of having the new Campaign commence in Piraeus, the heart of the Greek shipping community, before traveling to a further 13 cities around Greece until 2017. He referred to the success of the 2011-2014 Campaign, which just recently reached its completion, speaking of how it conveyed the important message for the protection of our seas and beaches in the best possible way to thousands of children across the country. He added that since its inception in 1982, HELMEPA has been aiming at the refresher training of seafarers, but that the Association has since evolved to also have the enhancement of an environmental consciousness and awareness-raising activities included in its key objectives. "The best guarantee we have that our seas will be protected in the future is the children who will take away with them this vital message from the Campaign" , Dr Coustas remarked as he thanked Lloyd΄s Register Foundation* for its financial support. In closing, he congratulated HELMEPA staff ...

HELMEPA´s three-year long campaign, which began in 2011 and ran across 12 cities-areas of Greece with the financial support of Lloyd´s Register Foundation(the Foundation), has now been completed. The two objectives of the Campaign were: (1) to inform primary and secondary education students about the marine environment, shipping, science and engineering and (2) to raise awareness among local stakeholders and throughout the society about the protection of the environment. The results of HELMEPA´s survey concerning the environmental awareness of the 13,500 primary and secondary students who visited the Exhibition in all 12 cities proved interesting. Two out of three students believe that litter pollution of streets and beaches is the most serious environmental problem in their area, as well as the lack of parks and "green" corners in their cities. As for the marine environment, students are aware to a large extent of its importance for life on Earth. In considering Port Authorities to be the main entity responsible for the protection of seas and coasts in Greece, the vast majority (93%) of students also recognize the personal responsibility οf each and every individual for a clean and healthy environment. The main sources of information on environmental issues are school, ...

HELMEPA announces results of three-year campaign in Greece

The Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association-HELMEPA is delighted to announce that the Association has been nominated to receive the prestigious Thor Heyerdahl International Maritime Environment Award 2014