ATHENS, Greece and NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 16th Annual Capital Link Greek Shipping Forum will take place on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the Athenaeum Intercontinental Athens in Greece. The Forum is held in partnership with DNV and in cooperation with NASDAQ and NYSE.

Featuring the institutional and industry leadership of global shipping, this forum will explore the sector’s most significant trends, challenges, and emerging opportunities. Discussions will highlight forward-looking strategies to help industry stakeholders operate confidently within a landscape growing more complex and demanding by the day.

From shifting geopolitical dynamics and evolving tariff frameworks to energy security, regulatory pressures, changes in global trade routes, and broader economic forces, the shipping sector is shaped by a wide array of powerful influences. Amid these developments, the industry’s role as the connective tissue of the global supply chain remains not only essential but increasingly strategic. This forum will offer valuable insights into how shipping can continue to drive resilience, innovation, and sustainable growth in the years ahead.

Among other, the Forum features

• The Shipping Ministers of Greece, Cyprus and Malta and the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Affairs, U.S. Department of State; the Director for Mobility & Transport of the European Commission.
• The heads of the four main industry associations – BIMCO, International Chamber of Shipping, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO.
• Leading Bankers, Investors and Shipowners from privately held and publicly listed companies (TEN, Gaslog, DLNG, Sulnox).
  
  

2026 Capital Link Greek Shipping Leadership Award:
In the context of the Forum, the “2026 Capital Link Greek Shipping Leadership Award” will be presented to Mr. Pantelis Eleftherios (Lou) Kollakis, Chairman, Chartworld Group of Companies in recognition of his contribution to shipping and to Greece.

KEYNOTE MINISTERIAL ROUNDTABLE

Moderator:Mr. George Teriakidis, Regional Manager for Southeast Europe – DNV Maritime

Panelists:

• Minister Vasilis Kikilias, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy – Hellenic Republic         
• Minister Marina Hadjimanolis, Shipping Deputy Minister to the President – Republic of Cyprus         
• Minister Chris Bonett, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works – Republic of Malta        
• DAS Marco M. Sylvester, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Affairs – U.S. Department of State

FEATURED SPEAKERS

NET ZERO DEBATE - REGULATIONS + ENERGY TRANSITION

Moderator:Dr. John Kokarakis, M&O GMC / BSA Technical Director – Bureau Veritas Marine

Panelists:

• Mr. Mikki Koskinen, Managing Director – ESL Shipping Ltd.; President – European Shipowners | ECSA
• Ms. Fotini Ioannidou, Director, DG for Mobility & Transport – European Commission
• Mr. Alfonso Castillero, CEO – Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry(LISCR)
• Ms. Ioanna Procopiou, Managing Director – Prominence Maritime; President Designate – BIMCO; Member of the Board – Union of Greek Shipowners

KEYNOTE INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP ROUNDTABLE
STEERING THE COURSE - DRIVING THE INDUSTRY FORWARD

Moderator:Ms. Anthi Miliou, Maritime Commercial Director – Lloyd’s Register

Panelists:

• Mr. John Xylas, Chairman – INTERCARGO; President & CEO – Ariston Navigation Corp.; Member of the Board – Union of Greek Shipowners
• Mr. Paul Pathy, President – BIMCO; President & CEO – Fednav
• Mr. Claes Berglund, Vice Chair – International Chamber of Shipping; Senior Director – Stena
• Mr. Rolf Westfal-Larsen Jr., Chairman – INTERTANKO; Chief Executive Officer – Westfal-Larsen Management AS

SHIPPING: NAVIGATING THE INTERPLAY OF COMMERCE, GEOPOLITICS & REGULATIONS

Moderator:Ms. Dorothea Ioannou, Chief Executive Officer – American P&I Club

Panelists:

• Mr. Michael Parker, Chairman, Global Shipping, Logistics & Offshore – Citi
• Mr. Richard Fulford-Smith, Founder – EDEN OCEAN LLC; Co-Founder – Affinity Shipping
• Mr. Peter G. Livanos, Chairman and Member of the Board of Directors – GasLog Ltd.  
• Dr. Anthony S. Papadimitriou, President – Onassis Foundation

GREECE AS EUROPE'S ENERGY GATEWAY: MARITIME POWER & TRANSATLANTIC SECURITY

Keynote Opening Remarks:
Mr. Joshua Huck, Chargé d’Affaires – U.S. Embassy in Athens, Greece

Moderator:Mr. Morten Løvstad, Vice President Business Development – DNV Maritime

Panelists:

• Mr. Alexandros Exarchou, Chairman & CEO – AKTOR Group of Companies(ATH: AKTR); CEO – Atlantic See LNG Trade
• Mr. Frangiskos Kanellakis, Executive Director – Alpha Bulkers / Pantheon Tankers / Alpha Gas
• Mr. George Prokopiou, Founder – Dynacom Tankers Management Ltd. / Dynagas Ltd. (NYSE: DLNG) / Sea Traders S.A.
• Dr. Nikolas P. Tsakos, Founder & CEO – TEN LTD (NYSE: TEN); Chairman – INTERTANKO (2014-2018) (NYSE: TEN)

BANK FINANCE PANEL

Moderator:Mr. Anthony Paizes, Partner, Head of Ship Finance, Greece – Hill Dickinson LLP

Panelists:

• Mr. Vangelis Nomikos, Senior Director – ABN AMRO
• Mr. Yiannis Karamanolis, Chief of Shipping – Alpha Bank
• Mr. Christos Tsakonas, Global Head of Shipping – DNB
• Mr. Vassilios Maroulis, Managing Director, Global Industry Head, Shipping, Logistics & Offshore – Citi
• Mr. Evan Cohen, Managing Director & Group Head of Maritime Finance – First Citizens Bank
  
  

ALTERNATIVE FINANCE PANEL

Moderator:Mr. Chris Vartzis, Partner, Head of Maritime Finance, Greece – Stephenson Harwood

Panelists:

• Mr. Nicholas M. Petrakakos, Partner & Managing Director, Maritime & Offshore, Investment Banking – Alantra
• Mr. Eahan Shi, Executive Director, Shipping Finance Department – Bank of China Financial Leasing
• Mr. George Fikaris, Managing Director – EnTrust Global
• Mr. Sakis Voudris, Director Business Development – Neptune Maritime Leasing Ltd.

THE INVESTOR VIEW ON SHIPPING: STRATEGIES ACROSS SECTORS & CYCLES

Moderator:Mr. Konstantinos Mexias, Partner, Assets & Structure Finance Group – Watson Farley & Williams

Panelists:

• Mr. Bastian Hagebeuker, Partner – Blue Star Group; Managing Director – Windward Offshore
• Mr. Felix Nölke, Managing Director for Maritime Investments – MPC Capital; Managing Director – MPC OSE Offshore
• Mr. Alexis Atteslis, Co-Head of Europe & Partner – Oak Hill Advisors
  
  

NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL HORIZON: TECHNOLOGY, AI & THE FUTURE OF SHIPPING

Moderator:Ms. Maria Kyratsoudi, Director, Business Development, Greece – ABS

Panelists:

• Mr. Yiannis Kourkoulis, Vice President and Board Member – Best Oasis Limited; CEO – Armi Shipmanagement
• Mr. Mark O'Neil, President & CEO – Columbia Group; President – InterManager (2020-2024)
• Mr. Konstantinos Stampedakis, Co-Founder & Managing Director – ERMA TECH GROUP
• Mr. Ben Richardson, Chief Executive Officer – Sulnox (Aquis: SNOX)

2026 CAPITAL LINK GREEK SHIPPING LEADERSHIP AWARD

Register and view the full agenda →

SPONSORS
ORGANIZED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: DNV
IN COOPERATION WITH: New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) & NASDAQ 
GLOBAL LEAD SPONSOR: TEN Ltd. (NYSE: TEN)
GLOBAL GRAND SPONSOR: Onassis Group
GLOBAL GOLD SPONSORS: Columbia Group • EY
GLOBAL SPONSORS: ABS • Bureau Veritas • DNB • First Citizens Bank • Hill Dickinson • Liberian Registry • Stephenson Harwood • WFW 
SPONSORS: ABN AMRO • The American P&I Club • ALANTRA • Alpha Bank • Bank of China • BestOasis • CITI • EnTrust Global • Ermatech Group • LR • Neptune Maritime Leasing Ltd. • SPM Shipping • Sulnox
SUPPORTING SPONSORS: Chartworld Shipping Corporation • Dynacom Tankers Management • Dynagas LNG Partners LP • Flott & Co. PC • Ifchor Galbraiths •MPC Container Ships • Republic of Cyprus Shipping Deputy Ministry • Tsavliris Salvage Group • Sea Traders S.A.
SPEAKER RECEPTION SPONSOR: Hill Dickinson
BREAKFAST SPONSORS: Castor Maritime Inc. (NASDAQ: CTRM) • Toro Corp. (NASDAQ: TORO)
LUNCHEON SPONSOR: The Marshall Islands Registry
COFFEE SPONSOR: Dimello • Papadopoulou
WIFI SPONSOR: Franman
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS: Association of Banking and Financial Executives of Hellenic Shipping • Bayes Business School • BCA College • British Hellenic Chamber of Commerce • Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee • Association Hellenique de Droit Maritime • Hellenic Republic of Shipping • HELMEPA • Hellenic Society of Maritime Lawyers • EN.EA.N.M.E. • Hellenic Shipbrokers Association • Intercargo • Athens University of Economics and Business • Propeller Club • QMS Maritime Training Center (QMS MTC) • Sea – LNG
MEDIA PARTNERS: Alter Ego Media • TO BHMA • Oikonomikos Tachydromos • All About Shipping.co.uk • Athens – Macedonian News Agency • Business Events Calendar • Efoplistis Shipping Magazine • efoplistesnews • economia publishing • Elnavi Monthly Shipping Review • The Japan Maritime Daily • Kaiji Press • MarineCircle • The Maritime Executive • Naftika Chronika • PIRAEUS365.GR • Robban Assafina • Shipping Finance • Shipping International Monthly Review • maritimes.gr • Group NAFS • Xinde Marine News • Worldoils

Registration and Event Information:
Date: February 5, 2026
Location: Athenaeum Intercontinental Athens – Greece
Event Information & Registration →

For more information, please contact Nicolas Bornozis or Anny Zhu at forum@CapitalLink.com or +1 212 661 7566.

About Capital Link
Founded in 1995, Capital Link is a New York based investor relations, financial communications and advisory firm with a strategic focus on the maritime, commodities and energy sectors, MLPs, as well as Closed-End Funds and ETFs. In addition, Capital Link organizes a series of investment conferences a year in key industry centers in the United States, Europe and Asia, all of which are known for combining rich educational and informational content with unique marketing and networking opportunities. Capital Link is a member of the Baltic Exchange. Based in New York City, Capital Link has presence in London, Athens & Oslo.