ELIME and HELMEPA Join Forces for Safer, More Sustainable Greek Ports

Photo source: ELIME

The Hellenic Ports Association (ELIME) and the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA) have signed a Memorandum of Collaboration to enhance the safety and sustainability of Greek ports.

The agreement strengthens cooperation between the two organizations on key issues, including sustainable port development, marine pollution prevention, maritime safety, decarbonization, circular economy initiatives, and the adoption of new technologies.

A core aspect of the partnership is also to raise public and industry awareness about protecting the marine environment.

HELMEPA President Semiramis Paliou and ELIME Vice President Panagiotis Tsonis. Photo source: HELMEPA

The Memorandum was signed at the Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) offices by Panagiotis Tsonis, Vice President of ELIME and Deputy CEO of PPA S.A., and Semiramis Paliou, President of HELMEPA and CEO of DIANA SHIPPING Inc.

“Through this initiative, we aim to actively contribute to the maritime community’s efforts to protect the marine environment,” said Tsonis after the signing. “Our collaboration with HELMEPA marks an important step toward building a more sustainable port system by investing in innovation, education, and green technologies.”

On her part, Paliou highlighted that the collaboration reinforces HELMEPA’s commitment to sustainable and safe port operations.

“We are particularly pleased that port workers will benefit from HELMEPA Academy programs, gaining valuable knowledge on key industry topics such as workplace safety, pollution prevention, emergency management, alternative fuels, electrification, and cybersecurity,” she said.

New initiatives and the METAVASEA project

As part of the Memorandum, one innovative initiative includes the creation of interactive areas within ports, where visitors will be educated on practical actions to protect the marine environment.

Additionally, ELIME and HELMEPA are already collaborating within METAVASEA, an international initiative uniting 100 maritime organizations in the Eastern Mediterranean. The project aims to map existing port infrastructure and identify necessary skills for decarbonizing the maritime industry.