Agenda

Marine Insurance Greece

The Eugenides Foundation, Athens

Day One: 6th May 2026

 

(All times are in EEST)

 

08.30-09.20

Registration and Coffee in the Pre – Function Area, sponsored by

09.20-09.30

Welcome Address

Conference Chair: Yannis Triphyllis, Board Member, Hellenic Chamber of Shipping

09.30-09.50

Keynote Address: TBC

 

Presenter: George Karkas, Managing Director, Gard

09.50-10.40

Panel Discussion: State of the Market

The shape of the market is changing once again as rates soften. In this session, we will explore the impact of the renewal season for P&I and take a look at what is happening in the commercial market. We will consider the rise of the MGAs and the influx of new capacity, alongside the behaviour of market players and the impact on trust and confidence in insurance.

Moderator: Manos Lorentzos, Executive Director, Seascope Hellas / Chairman, Hellenic Committee of Lloyd’s Brokers Associates

Panellists: Ilias Tsakiris, Chief Executive Officer, Hellenic Hull and Ocean Hull Committee Chair, International Union of Marine Insurance

Davinia Melachrinos, Partner – Marine, McGill and Partners

Ludvig Nyhlen, Regional Executive Director Team Greece, The Swedish Club

Nick Rowe, Head of Strike and Delay, NorthStandard

10.40-11.00

Case Study: X-Press Pearl – Setting a New Bar

The judgment on the X-Press Pearl incident came out in July 2025, sending shockwaves through the industry as the court ruled compensation should be set at the maximum US$2 billion limit of International Group payments. In this session, we discuss the case and compensation, but also consider the implications for the future and the limits of liability more generally. 

Presenter: Simon Leslie, Associate Director, The London P&I Club

11.00-11.30

Coffee and Networking Break sponsored by Blueaigaion Insurance Solutions SA

11.30-12.10

Panel Discussion: Complications Arising from the Collision of Dark Fleet Vessels

 

Even the mainstream media has started to consider the risks of the dark fleet as President Trump took action off the coast of Venezuela. In this panel discussion, we look at how the dark fleet has grown in the past year, including a drift away from traditional International Group Clubs and the increasing risks of a major pollution incident, not just from a collision, but from deliberate attacks, as we have witnessed.

Moderator: Stavriana Asprogiannidou, Managing Director Marine, Howden

Panellists: Fay Lampropoulou, Deputy General Manager, The London P&I Club

Cedric Chatteleyn, Senior Claims Director, UK P&I Club

Dimitris Ampatzidis, Maritime Risk and Compliance Manager, Kpler

Eleni Antoniadou, Lawyer Defence, Gard

12.10-12.50

Panel Discussion: War – Scars Running Deep

The world has been so uncertain in the past few years, from the Russian attack on Ukraine to the more recent clashes between Venezuela and the US. Questions for the marine market include how to move forward with such uncertainties, how do you arrange charterparties and fix in such an environment and how have the past few years left the relationship between the war risks market and P&I clubs?

Moderator: Jun Lin, Head of Portfolio and Business Development, Gard

Panellists: Nikos Rekantzis, Manager – Marine, Cargo and Logistics Practice – Greece, Marsh, Marsh

Damian Bischiniotis, Senior Marine Broker, Blueaigaion Insurance Solutions

Despina Kalfa, Marine Insurance Executive, Aries Marine

Nick Maddalena, Managing Director, Ambrey Global Specialty

12.50-13.50

Lunch and Networking break sponsored by Kozen Marine Survey

13.50-14.10

Presentation: The Coming Opportunity In LNG?

The US and Greece have agreed a new deal on LNG supply at government level, representing an expansion opportunity that mirrors growing regas and production demand globally. In this fireside chat, we talk about the changing shape of LNG as it accommodates new and emerging demands, while also considering what that will mean for the insurance sector.

Presenter: Jeff Wilson, Divisional Director, Marine and Offshore Advisory, Howden

14.10-14.30

Presentation: Winds of Change – US Policy                

The old saying goes, the US sneezes and Europe catches a cold. In this presentation, we hear how fast-changing US policy is impacting the marine market from geopolitics to sanctions and tariffs. We consider the implications for trade routes, profitability and costs.

Presenter: Daniel Tadros, Chief Operating Officer, The American Club

14.30-15.10

Panel Discussion: It’s all in the Name – Fires

Fires are not all caused by lithium batteries, but also by mis declared cargoes, chemicals and inappropriate storage. Sadly, the number of fires on board vessels is continuing to rise, despite the sector’s best efforts to improve risk management. Even more tragically, fires continue to cost lives, as we saw at the end of 2025. In this session, we will hear from the cargo perspective as well as experts on what more the industry can do to reduce the risks.

Moderator: Dimitris Monioudis, Managing Director, Rethymnis and Kulukundis / Chair ITERCARGO Technical Committee

Panellists: Anna Shipilli, Regional Representative, T&T Salvage

David Nichol, Loss Prevention Principal, The Swedish Club

Alexandra Chatzimichailoglou, Senior Claims Adviser, Lawyer Claims Athens, Gard

15.10-15.30

Fireside Chat: Managing a Salvage US Waters

In this fireside chat, we learn how the US regulators operate in terms of salvage in US waters and the impact of regulation OPA90. We not only look at this in terms of what it means for Greek owners and their insurers, but also from a US perspective, to consider what is included in the regulation. While there has not been a major oil pollution event recently, the risk continues, so we also explore how P&I Clubs can support owners through media management, crew safety and responding to the incident itself.

Participants: Elias Psyllos, President, American Salvage Association

Daniel Dettor, Director of Business Development, Resolve Marine

15.30-16.00

Coffee and Networking Break sponsored by Blueaigaion Insurance Solutions SA

16.00-16.40

Panel Discussion: Claims Trends and Costs in the Spotlight

 

Insurers exist to pay claims, however in recent years, the cost of those claims has risen dramatically. In this panel, we explore where claims are coming from and why the costs have risen so dramatically, including the impact of the drive towards environmental protection. We consider the ways insurers and insureds might row back on the escalating trend.

 

Moderator: Ian Clarke, Chief Executive Officer, West of England P&I Club

Panellists: Konstantinos Samaritis, Head of Greek Office, Divisional Director, Britannia P&I Club

Michael Chanouzas, Insurance and Claims Manager, IONIC

Joanna Koukouli, The American Club

Melis Otmar, Executive Director- Head of Marine Claims London, Howden

16.40-17.20

Panel Discussion: Bad Bunkers – Are Bunker Tests Good Enough?

There has been a spate of claims resulting from contaminated bunkers, impacted by chemicals or microbes that are not showing up on the regular tests. In this technical breakout, we investigate why this is happening and whether the tests need to be changed. We will also look at the subsequent claims process and suggest ways to ensure the claim is made successfully.

Moderator: Simon Jackson, Partner, DAC Beachcroft

Gillian Stanton, FD&D Claims Director – Greece, NorthStandard

Steve Bee, Group Marketing and Strategic Projects Director, VPS

Alex Gullen, Senior Claims Handler and Adjuster Oslo, Norwegian Hull Club

17.20-17.30

Closing Remarks

Conference Chair: Yannis Triphyllis, Board Member, Hellenic Chamber of Shipping

20.00-LATE

Polygreen are proud to sponsor the Marine Insurance Greece Party 2026, which will be held at Barbarossa, Athens. All delegates are warmly invited to attend.

 

Marine Insurance Greece

Day Two: 7thth May 2026

 

09.15-09.55

Registration and Coffee in the Pre-Function Area, sponsored by

09.55-10.00

Welcome Address

Conference Chair: Yannis Triphyllis, Board Member, Hellenic Chamber of Shipping

10.00-10.20

Presentation: Marine Cyber and Navigation

The threat of zombie ships, spoofing, faking and hacking have all become so much easier thanks to technology and the ability of criminals to create new threats faster than the authorities can eradicate them. In this conversation, we analyse the growing threat from this type of activity and consider the options for both insurers and insureds.

Participant: Robert Dorey, Chief Executive Officer, Astaara Group

10.20-11.30

Role Play: Imagine If… Playing out a Local Claim

A Greek container ship is in collision with a dark vessel, filled to the brim with oil, in the Mediterranean Sea: the stuff of nightmares for most in the marine market. In this role play, we bring in the voices of a P&I Club, a hull and machinery insurer, a lawyer and a salvor to understand all the different perspectives at play and how they would work together for the best possible outcome.

Participants: Helen Yiacoumis, Counsel, DAC Beachcroft

Mike Fowkes, Master Mariner, TMC Marine

Dimitris Theodorou, Director of Emergency Response, Resolve Marine

Eftychia Tsakou, Vice President Claims, Norwegian Hull Club

Charlotte Valentin, Senior Vice President, Head of Skuld Piraeus, Skuld Piraeus

11.30-11.50

Presentation: Claiming on your FD&D Policy

FD&D is one of the most popular marine covers sold in Greece, accounting for a significant proportion of many Club’s books. It is also something that is frequently claimed against, so in this presentation we hear about the claims scenario in this space and look at why Clubs are so willing to sell a product that has proved to be more of a service than a profit centre.

Presenters: Marius Vitas, Senior Manager, West of England P&I Club

Elizabeth Wood, Deputy Head of Claims, Hellas, West of England P&I Club

11.50-12.20

Coffee and Networking Break sponsored by Blueaigaion Insurance Solutions SA

12.20-12.40

Presentation AI – Steering a Straight Course

In this session we explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the business processes of marine insurance brokers and underwriters, reshaping traditional workflows into faster, data-driven, and more resilient operations. It examines practical AI applications across key functions including risk assessment, underwriting, claims handling, customer engagement, and compliance. By combining industry use cases with implementation considerations, the presentation provides a roadmap for brokers and underwriters to leverage AI responsibly—improving operational efficiency, strengthening risk management, and delivering greater value to clients in an increasingly complex maritime risk environment.

Presenter: Dmitry Vavilov, Managing Director, Maritime Risk Management

12.40-13.00

Presentation: A Year is a Long Time in Convention Terms

It is almost a year since the Hong Kong Convention came into law, so in this discussion we take a look back at that year and consider the changes that have followed. We will also explore the ongoing debate about the differences between the Hong Kong Convention and the Basel Convention, debating which Convention is the most appropriate to follow and why.

Presenter: Alexander Freeman, Partner, Hill Dickinson

13.00-13.20

Presentation: Salvage – Practical Challenges

Salvage operations have always been tricky, but in today’s world the complexities are growing rapidly, from environmental requirements to hazardous cargoes. In this session, a salvor outlines the difficulties encountered on a daily basis, from dealing with local authorities, the ship owner, to cargo interests and to the insurer.

Presenter: Maurice Schreurs, Commercial Director, SMIT Salvage

13.20-14.00

Panel Discussion: Keeping the Money Flowing

We have all become used to sanctions as a weapon of war and the consequences for the insurance market. In this session, we take a practical look at how they impact day-to-day operations, including withholding money from innocent parties. We discuss the various ways sanctions disrupt routine operations and include an update on the latest approach to sanctions from various authorities around the world, while providing some practical tips to continuing to work as normal.

Moderator: Ioanna Topaloglou, Managing Director, Orion International Brokers and Consultants

Panellists: Dimitris Anassis, Partner, Hill Dickinson

Matt Pearson, FD&D Claims Senior Solicitor, NorthStandard

Lucie Ryan, Senior Sanctions Specialist, The Swedish Club

Yannis Triphyllis, Board Member, Hellenic Chamber of Shipping

14.00-14.10

Closing Remarks

Conference Chair: Yannis Triphyllis, Board Member, Hellenic Chamber of Shipping

14.10-15.30

Farewell Drinks & Lunch sponsored by Kozen Marine Survey

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