8th Slide2Open Shipping Finance 2025
Shipping Concepts in Concert
Α 360 Compendium of Shipping
High Impact Networking Conference
- Αn innovative event where keynote presentations, interviews, and panel discussions blend with musical performances by esteemed shipping industry members, culminating in a concert and cocktail reception.
- The premier 2025 gathering of top shipping executives, where exclusive networking opportunities abound.
- A portion of the proceeds will benefit charitable causes, adding purpose to your participation.
www.slide2open.net/sf2025
Wednesday 22 January 2025
Megaron, the Athens Concert Hall, Banqueting Hall
There is never a dull moment in shipping. Slide2Open aims to live up to this adage by constantly acting as an incubator of ideas within the shipping community and beyond.
Slide2Open Shipping Finance 2025 returns for its 8th annual conference. Our Advisory Board and Working Groups have been tirelessly engaged throughout the year, contributing to discussions, shaping pioneering standards, generating influential green and white papers, thereby making a lasting impact on the global shipping community.
The 8th Slide2Open Shipping Finance aims to be a 360 Compendium of Shipping, where Conference and Concert unite for the first time ever in such a context. Shipping has talent! Dialogue and Innovation combined with a strong Artistic Inspiration.
Join us for a day of forward-thinking discussions, networking opportunities, and musical performances, as we gather in Athens with the aim of continuing the constructive transformation of the shipping industry, the exchange of ideas and, why not, have some fun in between!
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to charity.
Advisory Board
Chairman
Leonidas Dimitriadis-Evgenidis
Chairman of the Advisory Board
Speaker
IMO Ambassador in Greece
President of Eugenides Foundation
Dimitrios Fafalios
Advisory Board Member – Speaker
President / Director,
Fafalios Shipping S.A.
Chairman, INTERCARGO
Secretary of the BoD, Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS)
Prof. Ioannis Golias
Advisory Board Member – Speaker
Managing Director of the Eugenides Foundation
Emeritus Professor in the Civil Engineering School,
National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)
Prof. Dr Ing. Konstantinos Karachalios
Advisory Board Member – Speaker
Special Advisor to the CEO and former Managing Director of IEEE Standards Association
Advisory Board Member – Speaker
Deputy Chairman, Contships Management Inc.
President, Hellenic Chamber of Shipping
Advisory Board Member – Speaker
Deputy Chairman, Contships Management Inc.
President, Hellenic Chamber of Shipping
Angelos Roupas Pantaleon
Conference Chair and Moderator
Founder Second Wind & Partners
Rudi Schubert
Advisory Board Member – Speaker
Director – New Initiatives at IEEE Standards Association
Alpesh Shah
Advisory Board Member – Speaker
Managing Director, IEEE SA Standards Association
Organizer
IEEE Standards Association Maritime Ambassador
Managing Director, Slide2Open Communications
Slide2Open Shipping Finance in Numbers
>1,200 Participants
>28,000 Online Attendees
133 Countries
11,105 Network Connections
Shipping has Talent!
The spotlight will shine on the many talents of the Greek shipping community, blending art, creativity, and professional achievement.
Resonance of the Sea
An Intersection of Talent and Maritime Heritage
Concert
Katerina Sp. Polemi
The Maritime Muse
Cocktail Reception: A Melodic Prelude in the Foyer
under the enchanting sounds of the string duo
Soul N Passion, featuring:
Rallia Fafalios (violin)
Iliana Koretsi (cello)
Registration: https://www.eventora.com/en/Events/shipping-finance-2025
AGENDA
Agenda*
09:30 Registration and Morning Coffee
Curtain Raiser: Overture to Maritime Excellence
Setting the Stage for Innovation and Collaboration in the Shipping World
10:00 Welcome and Introductory Remarks
Conference Organizer: Mrs Despina Travlou
IEEE Standards Association Maritime Ambassador; Concept Founder & SG, AI IA NPO;
Managing Director, Slide2Open Communications
Advisory Board Chair: Mr Leonidas Dimitriadis-Eugenides
IMO Ambassador in Greece; President, Eugenides Foundation
Conference Chair: Mr Angelos Roupas Pantaleon
Greek Representative of Euromar; Founder, Second Wind & Partners
Conference Guest of Honor: Dr Thomas Coughlin
2025 IEEE Past President; President of Coughlin Associates
10:15 Greeting Speech Mr Christos Stylianides*
Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy of the Hellenic Republic
10:25 Greeting Addresses
Innovation Overture: A Visionary Prelude Prof. Kathleen Kramer Keynote Speaker
2025 IEEE President & CEO; Professor of Electrical Engineering, University of San Diego
Mr Chris Goldsworthy
Keynote Speaker
Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST)
10:45 Live On-Stage: MoU Signing for Maritime Sustainability
Collaborative Crescendo
A brief, impactful dialogue between the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the
Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), culminating in the signing of a
landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement reflects their shared commitment to advancing sustainability in the maritime industry, with a focus on collaborative initiatives in key areas such as:
- development of standards/rules on sustainable maritime sector
ship and port electrification, offshore plant installations
- development of training material books, tutorials, seminars, webinars
- supporting and accrediting educational activities CPD, MSc courses
- organization of events webinars, workshops, conferences
- Assisting international policy organizations in technical issues
IMO, European Commision
Signatories: Prof. Kathleen Kramer
2025 IEEE President & CEO; Professor of Electrical Engineering, University of San Diego
Mr Chris Goldsworthy Chief Executive Officer, IMarEST
Witnesses: Mr Leonidas Dimitriadis-Eugenides
IMO Ambassador in Greece; President, Eugenides Foundation
Dr Thomas Coughlin
2025 IEEE Past President; President of Coughlin Associates
Prof. Christopher Hodge OBE FREng HonFIMarEST
Chief Electrical Engineer at BMT
Prof. John Prousalidis
Financial Crescendo:
Composing Sustainability in Maritime Venture
A
16:00 Panel Discussion
Adapting Ship Financing to Evolving Industry Demands
Sonata for Sustainability: Allegro Con Spirito
▪ Sustainability and Financing: Discussing the role of ship financing in driving sustainability, including funding for green
initiatives, compliance with regulations, and ESG-linked requirements.
▪ Newbuilds vs. Retrofitting: Exploring the financial challenges and opportunities in investing in new vessels versus upgrading existing fleets.
▪ Shortsea and Passenger Shipping: Addressing the unique financing needs and hurdles faced by these segments in adapting to evolving industry demands.
▪ Shipyard Contributions: Examining the role of shipyards in offering cost-effective and sustainable solutions for shipowners and operators.
▪ Emerging Trends: Highlighting innovative financing mechanisms, public-private funding collaborations, and the impact of
digital transformation on ship financing.
7
Moderator: Mr Angelos Roupas Pantaleon
Conference Chair, Founder, Second Wind & Partners
Panelists: Mr Gust Biesbroeck
PROW
Mr Panos Dikaios*
CEO, Attica Group
Mr Fotis Giannakoulis
Managing Director, ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
Ms Zhao Nan
General Manager, Bank of China (Europe) S.A. Athens Branch
Mr Theofanis Moustakatos*
Head of Shipping at National Bank of Greece
15:00 Parallel Workshop Session
Electrifying the Ports: An Orchestration of Innovation and Connectivity
Parallel Workshop Session
Exploring Port Electrification, Emerging Markets, and Technical Challenges
This interactive session delves into the transformative potential of port electrification, the creation of
maritime electric energy markets, and addressing new technical challenges.
15:00 Introduction
Prof. John Prousalidis
Professor of Marine Electrical Engineering, ΝTUA; Vice-Chairman, IEEE-MSCC and member, IEEE/EPPC
Working Group on Energy, Head of the Industrial Connection Activity Sustainable Maritime of ΙΕΕΕ;
Chairman of IMarEST Marine Electrical Special Interest Group (MESIG)
15:10 Overview of Port Electrification (Proteus):
Current developments and the vision for electrified ports
15:20 Actions by HEDNO and the Hellenic Republic:
Initiatives and opportunities for electrification led by national stakeholders
Presenters: Mr Anastasios Manos*
Chief Executive Officer, HEDNO S.A. (ΔΕΔΔΗΕ Α.Ε.)
Mr Dimitris Spyrou*
Consultant- Head of EU Project sector, Piraeus Port Authority S.A. (PPA S.A.)
8
Mr Haris Patsios*
Professor in Smart Energy Systems at Newcastle University, School of Engineering, and
Director of Newcastle University’s Centre for Energy
15:40 Exploring New Business Opportunities:
o Maritime Electric Energy Market
Dr Alex Papalexopoulos*
President & CEO, ECCO International Inc., CEO & Chairman, ZOME Energy Networks, Inc.
o Port Electric Distribution Network
Prof. John Prousalidis
Professor of Marine Electrical Engineering, ΝTUA; Vice-Chairman, IEEE-MSCC and member, IEEE/EPPC
Working Group on Energy, Head of the Industrial Connection Activity Sustainable Maritime of ΙΕΕΕ;
Chairman of IMarEST Marine Electrical Special Interest Group (MESIG)
o Addressing Accelerated Corrosion
Dora Tsiourva
National Technical University of Athens | NTUA · Division of Marine Structures
16:10 Interventions, Open Discussion, Q&A Session
16:30 Closure
Location: Workshop Room MC3.2
9
Closing Harmony
An Intersection of Talent and Maritime Heritage
16:45 Market Review
A Market Sonata: Trends Shaping the Shipping Industry
▪ Geopolitical Shifts: How global events reshaped trade flows and disrupted key shipping routes.
▪ Fleet Dynamics: The influence of fleet growth and reduced scrapping on freight rates.
▪ Regional Trade Patterns: Trends in cargo movements to the Far East and their implications for global trade.
▪ Resilient Valuations: Analyzing the stability of ship prices amidst market challenges.
Market research: Mrs Maria Bertseletou
Market Analyst at The Signal Group
Presented by: Mrs Semiramis Assimakopoulou
Senior Vice President of Sales at The Signal Group
17:00 Panel Discussion
Shipping has Talent!
The spotlight will shine on the many talents of the Greek shipping community,
blending art, creativity, and professional achievement.
Moderator: Mr George K. Dermatis
Director at Intermodal
Participants: Mrs Christie Bodouroglou*
STEM Shipping Co S.A.
Mrs Katerina Bodouroglou*
Managing Director, STEM Shipping Co S.A.
Mr Dimitrios Kokkinis
Founder and CEO of Proteus Social Innovation & Development; Co-Founder Regen Retreats;
Insurance, Claims & Crews Engagement Manager, United Overseas Management (Hellas) Ltd.
Mr Petros Panagiotidis*
President & Managing Director, Castor Maritime Inc., Managing Director, Toro Corp.
Mr Leonidas Sp. Polemis*
Managing Director, Polembros Shipping Ltd
Mr Giannis Theodorakis
SwissChemGas
Mr Sifis I. Vardinoyannis*
Executive Director, SEKAVIN SA
Mrs Eirini Veniamis Mangos
Director, Golden Union Shipping Co. S.A.
10
17:45 Spotlight on Industry Makers Session
TBA
18:00 Panel Discussion
Rhapsody in Blue
▪ Strategies for navigating market volatility and managing risks across shipping segments
▪ The role of technology in fleet management and operations
▪ Industry efforts toward sustainability, decarbonization, and green shipping initiatives
▪ Financing models for fleet modernization and investments in new technologies
▪ Impact of global regulations on shipping operations and compliance strategies
▪ Collaborations with shipyards and financial institutions in shaping the future of shipping
▪ Diversification strategies and balancing investments across different sectors of shipping
▪ Opportunities and challenges in adopting eco-friendly and innovative shipping practices
Moderator: Mr Angelos Roupas Pantaleon
Greek Representative, EUROMAR, Founder, Second Wind & Partners
Panelists: Dr John Coustas*
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Danaos Corporation
Mr Stephanos E. Angelakos
CEO, Angelakos (Hellas) S.A.
Mr Costas Delaportas
President & CEO, DryDel Shipping
Mr John Dragnis
Chief Executive Officer, Goldenport Group
Mr Leon Patitsas*
Founder and Owner Atlas Maritime
Mrs Ioanna Prokopiou*
CEO at Sea Traders SA and Founder of Prominence Maritime SA
Mr Harry Vafias
Managing Director of Vafias Group of Companies
11
Resonance of the Sea
A Concluding Celebration of Maritime Brilliance
18:45 Cocktail Reception: A Melodic Prelude in the Foyer
Relax and connect with fellow attendees under the enchanting sounds of the string duo
Soul N Passion, featuring:
Rallia Fafalios (violin)
Iliana Koretsi (cello)
