The decisions of the Extraordinary General Meeting of HELMEPA Members that was held online on Thursday, December 17th 2020, mark the strengthening of the links between HELMEPA and the Greek shipping community as well as the expansion of communication channels in order to communicate the Association’s environmental messages to a wider audience.

Specifically, the first important decision that was approved by vast majority, concerned the new membership fee policy. Managing companies will now be registered as Full Members with their entire fleet at a significantly lower – compared to the past – fee per vessel that decreases further depending on the size of the fleet.

Additionally, two categories of Member Companies are formed: (a) the “Collaborating Corporate Members” which include, among other, Banks, Classification Societies, P&I Clubs and Registries, and (b) the “Corporate Supporters”, i.e. shipping suppliers, law firms, insurance companies and brokers, international organizations, environmental and tourism enterprises, marinas and other companies operating in the wider maritime sector, which at a symbolic cost can now contribute as Members to this joint effort.

Welcoming the representatives of 274 ship-owning companies, as well as Corporate and Honorary Members, as Chair of the Assembly, the Association’s Chairwoman, Ms Semiramis Paliou, stated, among other, that “today that the environment and social responsibility are issues of paramount importance for business, it is time to strengthen HELMEPA’s role as companion of the Greek shipping community in a joint effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, of the United Nations’ “Agenda 2030” and invited everyone to join forces so that HELMEPA can continue contributing to environmental, training and sustainability issues.

Finally, the General Assembly unanimously approved amendments to the current Articles of Association bringing it in line it with modern demands, as well as the appointment of Mr. Peter Livanos, former Chairman of the Board and son of the HELMEPA’s Founder, the late George Livanos, as an Honorary Member in recognition of his important contribution towards achieving the Association’s aims. Secretaries of the General Assembly were Messrs. K. Kanellopoulos of Nereus Shipping SA and K. Terzis of Queensway Navigation Co. Ltd.