We are delighted to report the highly successful conclusion of the 4th CSN Mediterranean Crewing Conference, which took place on the 25th of June at the BLE Pavilion in Athens. The event brought together leading shipowners, shipmanagers, and maritime professionals for a day of engaging dialogue on the realities facing our seafarers today.

As the industry evolves under the banner of “Crewing 5.0”, our focus remained firmly on the human element, balancing rapid technological advancement with the critical need for crew welfare.

The day commenced with a welcome note from Adonis Violaris, Managing Director of CSN, setting the tone for an open and collaborative forum. We were honoured to have Marko Saul, Chief Executive Officer and Co Founder of Crewpoint Travel, serve as the Chairman of the conference. In his welcoming remarks, Marko perfectly framed the day ahead, emphasising that digital transformation in maritime logistics must ultimately serve to enhance human reliability and wellbeing, rather than complicate it.

 

Championing Diversity and Regulatory Realities

The morning sessions opened with a powerful address by Katerina Monogiou, Member of Parliament for the Cyclades with New Democracy. In her speech delivered by Constantinos Filippakopoulos, Scientific Advisor in Hellenic Parliament-Strategic Communications Advisor, she championed diversity and inclusion, highlighting the increasingly vital role of female seafarers in shaping a modern, resilient maritime workforce.

Following this, Douwe van der Meulen, Policy Advisor for Social Affairs and Maritime Security at ECSA, delivered a crucial presentation on safeguarding seafarers during the digital transition. He provided clarity on the intersection of regulatory compliance and human reality, reminding the audience that policy must translate into practical protection for the crew onboard.

 

Session 1: Talent Sourcing and The Realities of Deployment

Our Conference Chairman, Marko Saul, then took the stage for an insightful keynote presentation titled “End of the Tradeoff: How AI Finally Bridges Crew Travel’s Oldest Divide.” Marko articulated how operators no longer have to choose between cost efficiency and crew welfare. By leveraging purpose built artificial intelligence, companies can now navigate complex global travel logistics smoothly, reducing both operational costs and crew fatigue.

Bringing the cruise industry perspective to the forefront, Chrysanthos Chrysanthou, VP Technical at Celestyal Cruises, addressed the sourcing and training of crew. He shared valuable insights into the rigorous training demands of the cruise sector and how these practices can inform the wider commercial shipping industry.

 

 

This led perfectly into our first panel discussion, Technology in the Driver’s Seat: Rethinking the Last Mile of Crew Change.

Expertly moderated by Toomas Koost, Chief Operating Officer and Co Founder of Crewpoint Travel, the panel featured Dmitry Gladkov of EMA Marine, Panos Anagnostopoulos of Marine Tours, Sanja Markoc Jazavac of Orca Crew Services Croatia, Douwe van der Meulen of ECSA, and Chrysanthos Chrysanthou of Celestyal Cruises.

Toomas opened the session by clearly defining the last mile of crew change: the critical juncture where travel logistics, documentation, visas, port agent coordination, and vessel readiness must all perfectly align. Sanja Markoc Jazavac questioned how much crew change logistics have genuinely progressed over the last two decades, noting that despite new digital tools, the final leg remains fragile. Dmitry Gladkov added the commercial perspective, highlighting the severe consequences of manual breakage when travel fails for hard to source officers.

The conversation naturally moved into the realm of policy. Douwe van der Meulen provided crucial insights into the upcoming hurdles posed by the EU Entry and Exit System and ETIAS, stressing the importance of making the key worker status for seafarers an operational reality. Panos Anagnostopoulos expanded on this by explaining how policy friction ultimately lands squarely on the travel desk. The panel concluded that while AI presents a tremendous opportunity to streamline operations, the crew travel experience directly impacts welfare and retention, and therefore will always require a dedicated human touch.

Session 2 and 3: The Human Core, Mental Health and Regulatory Frameworks

After a networking coffee break sponsored by Swiss Marine, the agenda shifted to the very core of our industry: the physical and mental health of our seafarers.

Yiannis Michael, CEO and Founder of Repaint Your Life Holistic Mental Health Centres, delivered a compelling presentation on engineering actionable mental health systems onboard. He stressed the need to move beyond generic wellness advice and implement structured, trusted systems. Dr. Laura Benzonana, Chief Operating Officer and Global Ambassador of Health4Crew, then explored the future of crew health. She demonstrated how data and AI can empower better medical outcomes, taking the industry beyond simply assessing if a seafarer is “Fit for Duty” to genuinely optimising their health.

Focusing on the regulatory landscape, Martina Meinders, Managing Director of Marin Shipmanagement, presented on the RightShip RISQ and Crew Welfare Self Assessment. She explained how these frameworks act as a regulatory shield, elevating welfare standards across the fleet. Foteini Sifoniou, Crew Manager at Swiss Marine Inc., followed with a stark look at the commercial realities, discussing the rising costs of health and P&I crew claims, thereby proving that investing in wellbeing is also a sound financial strategy.

These keynotes laid the groundwork for our highly anticipated second panel: Mental Health, Crew Welfare, and Wellbeing.

 

 

Moderated brilliantly by Capt. Iro Gidakou, Fleet Operations Manager at Maran Gas, this session deliberately avoided a rigidly scripted format. Instead, it fostered a dynamic, authentic exchange among the panellists, which included Foteini Sifoniou, Martina Meinders, Capt. Vassilios Leoussis of Oceangold Tankers, Yiannis Michael, and Dr. Laura Benzonana.

Capt. Vassilios opened the core discussion by shedding light on the most underestimated mental health challenges seafarers face today. Fotini and Martina expanded on the practical limitations encountered from the shore side, offering realistic changes that companies could implement immediately.

A particularly poignant moment was the focus on current geopolitical tensions. The panellists examined how crises in regions like the Persian Gulf directly affect crew wellbeing and brainstormed better ways to support seafarers operating under extreme conditions. Yiannis Michael provided invaluable insights on how support systems can become more trusted by the crew, while Dr. Laura candidly discussed what companies most commonly get wrong when implementing wellbeing programmes. Capt. Iro expertly summarised the key takeaways, challenging the industry to move from being reactive to preventive.

 

 

Closing and Charity Ceremony

The conference drew to a close with final remarks from our Chairman, Marko Saul, who beautifully summarised the day’s insights.

This was followed by a very special Charity Ceremony led by Stella Violari, Editor at CSN. Joined by Daniil Zoulovits, CEO of DALOMAR Shipping, and Rena Vegkou, President of the ARGO Cultural Centre, the ceremony served as a powerful reminder of our community’s commitment to giving back and supporting those in need.

Following a final thank you to our delegates, speakers, and sponsors from Adonis Violaris, attendees enjoyed a networking lunch generously sponsored by EMA Marine.

The discussions in Athens proved that while shipping is fully embracing digitalisation, the welfare and efficient movement of our people remain our absolute priority. We look forward to continuing this vital dialogue at the 2nd CSN Northern European Crewing Conference, taking place in Hamburg on the 22nd of September 2026.

The photos of the conference can be found under the following link:

4th CSN Mediterranean Crewing Conference