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HELMEPA at Posidonia 2026

The Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA) will hold its International Conference "Ocean Intelligence in MetaShipping: Biodiversity, People, Innovation, Investment" on Wednesday, 3 June 2026 (10:30–14:30), at the Posidonia Conference Hall, Metropolitan Exhibition Centre, Athens, with the kind hosting of Posidonia, the world's most prestigious maritime exhibition. The Conference serves as a bridge to World Environment Day.

A high-level gathering of shipowners, maritime leaders, policymakers, regulators, financiers, academics, innovators, and the new generation, the Conference is known for its pioneering approach and authentic conversations shaping the course of global shipping.

The programme opens with welcome addresses by Semiramis Paliou, HELMEPA Chairperson and Director and CEO of Diana Shipping Inc., and Vassilis Kikilias, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy of Greece. An inspiring storytelling keynote follows from Mattias Klum, National Geographic Explorer, Artist, Photographer and Filmmaker, and Ambassador of the National Museum of Natural History Goulandris.

At the heart of the programme, the Shipowners-only Panel brings six shipowners together at the same table: Alexander Hadjipateras (Dorian LPG), Fragkiskos Kanellakis (Alpha Bulkers, Pantheon Tankers, Alpha Gas), Dr. Şadan Kaptanoğlu (Kaptanoglu Shipping; Vice Chairperson, INTERMEPA), Thanos Pasialis (Alpha Omega Marine), John Michael Radziwill (C Transport Maritime), and Ariane Saverys (EXMAR). The Panel is moderated by Julian Bray, Editor-in-Chief, TradeWinds, and is followed by a presentation on artificial intelligence by Stefanos Karagos, Senior AI Strategy Consultant, CAIO Group. The Conference closes with youth voices on stage and a surprise creative moment, "Expect the Unexpected". The Conference is moderated by Olga Stavropoulou, Director General of HELMEPA.

Participants are also invited to visit the HELMEPA stand at Posidonia 2026, Hall 2, Stand 2.212, an experiential space showing the power of art and play to remind us that we are all interconnected and, through collective action, we are all powerful.

At the HELMEPA stand, Marietta Karpathiou, Creative Director of ergon, creates a participatory installation inspired by the ocean floor. Layers of fabric in different textures, patterns and colours form a multidimensional underwater landscape that evolves continuously through the contribution of visitors. On the other side, visitors take part in Poseidon's Challenge, the new HELMEPA video game where every play unlocks real commitments for the ocean and for people, such as cleanups on remote islands, recycling bins for schools, ocean murals on schoolyard walls, and Ocean Literacy Labs in every primary school of Northern Evia. Pass by, take part, and join our cause to save the seas.

Olga Stavropoulou, Director General of HELMEPA, stated: "This is what makes the HELMEPA stand different at Posidonia 2026. Nothing here is pre-made or pre-finished. The art exists because visitors complete it. The commitments exist because players unlock them. It is HELMEPA's 44-year principle of voluntary commitment, in the simplest possible act: showing up, taking part, and leaving the place a little better than you found it."

The Conference is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy and the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, with the valuable donation of the Athina I. Martinou Foundation and the Captain Vassilis & Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation, and with the support of Ergon, BlueCycle and Pollina Ellis. Media partners are TradeWinds, Naftemporiki, Naftika Chronika and Voice of Greece. The Conference is organised in liaison with the National Museum of Natural History Goulandris, INTERMEPA, Capital Link, METAVASEA, EXCEED, Nauticinblu and the HELMEPA Youth Ambassadors.