Capital Link is hosting the 9th Annual Capital Link Cyprus Shipping Forum on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at the Columbia Plaza in Limassol, Cyprus.
The Forum takes place under the Auspices of the Shipping Deputy Ministry of Cyprus and the Shipping Deputy Minister to the President and in cooperation with the Cyprus Union of Shipowners, which is also the Lead Sponsor. The event is also supported by the Cyprus Shipping Chamber and the other major stakeholders of the Cyprus maritime cluster.
Forum Agenda
WELCOME REMARKS
9:00 – 9:05 AM
Mr. Nicolas Bornozis, President – Capital Link, Inc.
Mr. George A. Tsavliris, Principal – Tsavliris Salvage Group
Conference Chairman
CYPRUS MARITIME CLUSTER IN THE SPOTLIGHT
STRENGTH, RESILIENCE, & GROWTH
Keynote Presentation Followed by a 1×1 Discussion
9:05 – 9:40 AM
Minister Marina Hadjimanolis
Shipping Deputy Minister to the President
Republic of Cyprus
With: Mr. Nicolas Montanios, Partner – Montanios & Montanios LLC
NET ZERO – REGULATORY UPDATE
9:40 – 9:55 AM
Presented by:
Mr. Theo Kourmpelis, Global Business Director for Tankers – Lloyd’s Register
THE DEBATE FOR NET ZERO – IMPLICATIONS ON FLEET RENEWAL
Navigating Through Commercial & Regulatory Uncertainty
10:00 – 10:40 AM
Moderator: Mr. Vassilis Dimoulas, M&O EMA Technology & Innovation Director – Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore
Panelists:
Mr. Antonis Faraklas, Managing Director – Chartworld Shipping Corporation
Dr. George D. Pateras, Deputy Chairman – Contships Management Inc.; Former President – Hellenic Chamber of Shipping (2016-2025)
Capt. Eberhard Koch, Chairman, CEO & Partner – Österreichischer Lloyd Shipping Group (OL Shipping)
Dr. Loukas Barmparis, President – Safe Bulkers, Inc. (NYSE: SB)
SHIPPING IN THE AI ERA – OPTIMIZING THE COMMERCIAL & OPERATIONAL LANDSCAPE
10:45 – 11:25 AM
Moderator: Mr. Joe Woods, Senior Vice President, Business Development – ABS Consulting
Panelists:
Mr. Konstantinos Vlachos, COO – Castor Maritime (NASDAQ: CTRM)
Mr. Dimitris Vastarouchas, Chief Operating Officer & Vice President – Danaos Corporation (NYSE: DAC)
Mr. Konstantinos Stampedakis, Co-Founder & Managing Director – ERMA TECH GROUP
Mr. Vasileios G. Petousis, Energy & Sustainability Manager – Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: SHIP)
Mr. Theo G. Baltatzis, General Manager – Technomar Shipping Inc.
SHIPMANAGEMENT – WHAT’S NEXT?
Safety, People, & Performance in a Changing Maritime Landscape
11:50 – 12:30 PM
Panelists:
Mr. Basil Sakellis, CEO – Alassia NewShips Management
Capt. Franck Kayser, COO – Asyad Shipping Company
Mr. Dieter Rohdenburg, CEO – InterMaritime Shipmanagement Ltd.
Mr. Prabhat Kumar Jha, Group Managing Director & CEO – MSC Shipmanagement Ltd., Cyprus
CAPITAL AT SEA: THE STATE OF SHIP FINANCE
12:35 – 1:15 PM
Moderator: Mr. George Zambartas, Head of Ship Finance – Limassol – Hill Dickinson LLP
Panelists:
Alpha Bank Cyprus
Mr. Nicholas Pavlidis, Head of Shipping – Bank of Cyprus
Mr. Philipp Wünschmann, Head of Shipping – Berenberg
Mr. Aris Patounas, Head of Shipping – Eurobank Cyprus
Mr. Jan William Denstad, CEO & Founding Partner – Sole Projects Ltd.
ADVANCING ENERGY SECURITY: THE VERTICAL CORRIDOR AND
US-CYPRUS COOPERATION IN THE NEW ENERGY LANDSCAPE
2:30 – 3:00 PM
Moderator: Mr. Nicolas Bornozis, President – Capital Link, Inc.
Minister Michael Damianos
Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry
Republic of Cyprus
Dr. Daniel E. Mangis
Chargé d’ Affaires ad interim
U.S. Embassy in Nicosia, Cyprus
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
SHIPPING AT CROSSROADS: LEADERSHIP, RESPONSIBILITY &
THE PATH FORWARD IN A CHANGING WORLD
3:05 – 3:20 PM
Mr. Panagiotis C. Laskaridis
President Laskaridis Shipping Company Ltd
President ECSA (2016-2018)
Admiral Hellenic Navy
SHIPPING AT THE INTERPLAY OF GLOBAL COMMERCE, REGULATIONS, & GEOPOLITICS
3:25 – 4:05 PM
Moderator: Mr. Andreas Papachristodoulou, Partner – Stephenson Harwood
Panelists:
Mr. Mark O’Neil, President & CEO – Columbia Group; President – InterManager (2020-2024)
Mr. Spyros Vlassopoulos, Managing Director – Ionic
Mr. Filippo Fabbri, CEO – Lockton P.L. Ferrari
CHARTERERS’ INSIGHTS: IS THE COMMODITY RALLY FUELING
THE HOT CAPESIZE MARKET FOR THE REST OF 2026?
4:10 – 4:40 PM
Moderator: Mr. Polys Hajioannou, CEO – Safe Bulkers, Inc. (NYSE: SB); President – Cyprus Union of Shipowners
Panelists:
Mr. Timothy Fitzhugh Barrett, Capesize Global Trading Manager – Cargill Ocean Transportation
Mr. Carl Andrew Dacombe, Head of Capesize Trading – Mercuria Shipping Pte Ltd
SHIPOWNERS IN ACTION
INVESTING, OPERATING, & COMPETING IN A CHANGING MARKET
4:45 – 5:35 PM
Moderator: Mr. Leonidas Karystios, Regional Business Development Director & Global Fleet Technology Director – Gas Carriers – DNV Maritime
Panelists:
Mr. Andreas Hadjiyiannis, CEO – Cyprus Sea Lines / Hellenic Tankers; Former President – Cyprus Union of Shipowners
Mr. Filippos Efstathiou, Founding Principal – Efnav Company Ltd.
Mr. Aristides J. Pittas, Chairman & CEO – Euroseas Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESEA); EuroDry Ltd. (NASDAQ: EDRY)
Mr. George Mouskas, CEO – Olympia Ocean Carriers/ Zela Shipping
Mr. Polys Hajioannou, CEO – Safe Bulkers, Inc. (NYSE: SB); President – Cyprus Union of Shipowners
CLOSING REMARKS
5:35 – 5:40 PM
Mr. George A. Tsavliris, Principal – Tsavliris Salvage Group
Conference Chairman
