Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Awards 2025
Angelicoussi, Wiernicki, Paliou, Comninos and Procopiou among the personalities recognised at 22nd Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Awards
Shipowners Neptune Lines, Seaven Tanker Management, Atlantic Bulk Carriers and Tsakos won major awards in a ceremony that entertained but also engaged with important issues.
SOME of the most prestigious and successful individuals and companies in Greek shipping, as well as a number of exciting newcomers, were recognised as the 2025 Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Awards highlighted the know-how and dedication of the industry as it navigates turbulent times for global trade.
An industry gathering of more than 1,000 guests on Friday, December 5 enjoyed Greek shipping’s ‘Dinner of the Year’, in an evening dedicated to Greece and its leadership in international shipping.
Neptune Lines, the country’s major liner operator, was named ‘Dry Cargo Company of the Year’ after an exceptional 2025 that has seen the company advance and expand with a number of important initiatives. Seaven Tanker Management became the first short-sea shipping company to scoop one of the major awards as it won the ‘Tanker Company of the Year’ category. The Passenger Line of the Year Award was won by Minoan Lines,
Tsakos Energy Navigation won the ‘Deal of the Year’ Award for a mammoth deal for nine shuttle tankers that it will construct for long-term charter to Transpetro, a subsidiary of Brazil’s Petrobras, that will generate an estimated $2bn in revenues.
Other shipping companies to win important awards included Atlantic Bulk Carriers, that won ‘The Sustainability Award’, and Ariston Navigation, that was presented with the ‘Technical Achievement Award’ for its retrofitting and testing of the Petroduct, a new energy-saving device invented by Emmanouil Petromanolakis.
‘The Safety Award’ was won by Megatugs Salvage & Towage for its epic salvage of the Greek-flagged tanker Sounion, left burning in the Red Sea after being attacked by the Houthis. The operation averted an environmental catastrophe and made international headlines for its daring and professionalism.
Personalities winning individual awards were led by shipowner Maria Angelicoussis who was unveiled as ‘Greek Shipping Personality of the Year’ for 2025, reflecting her group’s ongoing support for the Greek flag and cadet training, but in particular the largest-ever transaction in the history of the Angelicoussis Group – its $2bn takeover of Altera Shuttle Tankers, now renamed Maran Shuttle Tankers.
Anthony E. Comninos was recognised for a remarkable career with the ‘Lloyd’s List / Propeller Club Lifetime Achievement Award. Marielena Procopiou, founder and chief executive of Delos Navigation and Akrotiri Tankers, won the ‘Next Generation Shipping Award’ for outstanding personalities under 40.
Semiramis Paliou, chief executive of New York-listed Diana Shipping and chairperson of the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (Helmepa), was unveiled as ‘Newsmaker of the Year’.
Christopher J. Wiernicki, retiring after 15 years as president and chief executive of classification society ABS was hailed as International Personality of the Year.
Traditionally one of the highlights of the annual awards ceremony, the ‘Seafarer of the Year Award’ was presented to Costamare containership master Captain Dionysios Arkalis, whose vessel rescued the seven-man crew of a small vessel that had been left drifting in the middle of the South Atlantic for two weeks in a classic case of prioritising the preservation of lives at sea.
As winner of the ‘Award for Achievement in Education or Training’, the judging panel chose the Aspropyrgos Merchant Marine Academy, a pillar of the national seafarers’ training system for nearly 70 years.
This year’s ‘Ship of the Year’ was named as the ‘Active’ a world-first liquefied CO2 carrier of 22,000 cu m capacity built by HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in Korea for Capital Clean Energy Carriers.
Several other important awards recognised excellence and value in Greece’s maritime cluster. CrediaBank was voted ‘Shipping Financier of the Year’, while Intermodal was named ‘Shipbroker of the Year’.
The Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association won the prestigious ‘Piraeus International Centre Award’. ‘The Lloyd’s List Intelligence Big Data Award’ was won by Nereus Digital Bunkering for its innovative bunkering management platform.
Brilliant singer Nafsica made a special guest appearance on stage, thrilling the audience with surprise performances of one of the most popular songs from Grease as well as a rendering of Thalassografia in tribute to Dionysis Savvopoulos.
The event was attended by Minister of Shipping & Island Policy Vasilis Kikilias who delivered a welcome address.
Neptune Maritime Leasing was the overall lead sponsor of the Greek Shipping Awards for a third consecutive year.
Guests enjoyed a pre-dinner drinks reception hosted by prominent shipbroking firm Allegiant (Shipping) while Dimitris Vranopoulos of sponsor Marine Plus offered the traditional champagne toast to the health of Greek shipping.
A donation from proceeds of the event went to ‘Argo’, the charity supporting children with disabilities in the families of Greek seafarers. The donation was kindly presented to Argo by Gianluca Tucci, director general of the San Marino Ship Register, which also sponsored the event’s Gallery of Winners, an entrance chamber chronicling past honorees of the event launched in 2004.
The annual awards recognise achievement and meritorious activity in the Greek shipping industry and promote Greece as a maritime centre. Winners are chosen by an independent panel of judges representing a broad cross-section of the Greek shipping industry.
The Greek Shipping Awards thanked all the Greek and international sponsors of the prestigious event, many of which have loyally supported the Awards for many years. This year saw Eurobank complete 10 years of support for the event, a milestone recognised in the form of an honorary statuette presented to the sponsor.
WINNERS AT-A-GLANCE
Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Awards 2025
Dry Cargo Company of the Year
Neptune Lines
Dry Cargo Company of the Year – Matthew Ian More of sponsor Marichem Marigases presenting the Award to Melina Travlos of Neptune Lines
Tanker Company of the Year
Seaven Tanker Management
Tanker Company of the Year – Paillette Palaiologou of sponsor Bureau Veritas presenting the Award to Stratos and Nicholas Tsalamanios of Seaven Tanker Management
Passenger Line of the Year
Minoan Lines
Passenger Line of the Year – Xu Sha, vice president of SWS presenting the Award to Loukas Sigalas, managing director of Minoan Lines
Shipbroker of the Year
Intermodal
Shipbroker of the Year – Harry Hajimichael of sponsor Tsakos Group, presenting the trophy to Kyriakos Dermatis, chairman of Intermodal Shipbroking Co.
Shipping Financier of the Year
CrediaBank
Shipping Financier – Mr Ramon Franco general director of merchant marine of sponsor Panama Maritime Authority presenting the Award to Konstantinos Economou, Head of Shipping of CrediaBank
Technical Achievement Award
Ariston Navigation
Technical Achievement Award – Leonidas Karystios (centre) global fleet technology director gas carriers and regional development of sponsor DNV presenting the Award to Emmanouil Petromanolakis and John Xylas of Ariston Navigation
Lloyd’s List Intelligence Big Data Award
Nereus Digital Bunkering
Lloyd’s List Intelligence Big Data Award – Pantelis Sapsis (centre) of sponsor Zygos Maritime Services presenting the Award to Nikolaos Gkikas and Kelly Dritsa of Nereus Digital Bunkers
Piraeus International Centre Award
Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association
Piraeus International Centre Award – Daiji Aihara general manager of TECH expertise centre of sponsor ClassNK presenting the Award to Charalampos Simantonis president of the Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association and the European Shortsea Network
The Safety Award
Megatugs Salvage & Towage
The Safety Award – Marios Iliopoulos of sponsor Seajets presenting the Award to Paul Xiradakis, director of Megatugs Salvage & Towage.
International Personality of the Year
Christopher J. Wiernicki
International Personality of the Year – Dr Niki Kalogiratos of sponsor Capital Clean Energy Carriers Corp presenting the Award to chairman and CEO of ABS, Christopher J. Wiernicki
Achievement in Education or Training
AEN Aspropyrgos
Award for Achievement in Education or Training – His Excellency Mr Stavros Avgoustides, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus in Athens presents the award to Ioannis Mytilineos, Commodore of the Hellenic Coast Guard and Commander of the AEN Aspropyrgos Merchant Marine Academy.
Seafarer of the Year
Capt. Dionysios Arkalis
Seafarer of the Year – Dr Loukas Barmparis, president and director of sponsor Safe Bulkers, Inc., presents the Award to Capt Dionysios Arkalis of Costamare
Ship of the Year
“Active”
Ship of the Year – Ilias Kariambas, vice president, Southern Europe Business Development of sponsor ABS presenting the Award to Miltos Zisis managing director of Capital Gas Ship Management owners of ‘Active’
The Sustainability Award
Atlantic Bulk Carriers
The Sustainability Award – Elina Papageorgiou, senior vice president for Greece and Cyprus of sponsor Lloyd’s Register, presenting the Award to Michalis Charalambous CEO and president of Atlantic Bulk Carriers
Deal of the Year
Tsakos Energy Navigation
Deal of the Year – Christos Timagenis (left) of sponsor Timagenis Law Firm, presenting the Award to George Saroglou, president and COO of Tsakos Energy Navigation and Panagiotis Tsakos Junior.
Next Generation Shipping Award
Marielena Procopiou
Next Generation Shipping Award – Theo Xenakoudis (right) of sponsor IRI / The Marshall Islands Registry, presenting the trophy to Marielena Procopiou
Lloyd’s List/Propeller Club Lifetime Achievement Award
Anthony E. Comninos
Lloyd’s List / Propeller Club Lifetime Achievement Award – Costis Frangoulis (left) of sponsor Franman, presenting the trophy to Anthony E. Comninos
Greek Shipping Newsmaker of the Year
Semiramis Paliou
Greek Shipping Newsmaker of the Year – Vasilis Monos (left) of sponsor LPC SA, presenting the trophy to Maria Christina Tsemani accepting on behalf of Semiramis Paliou
Greek Shipping Personality of the Year
Maria Angelicoussis
Greek Shipping Personality of the Year – Christina Margelou (left) of sponsor Eurobank, presenting the Award to Maria Angelicoussis
