In light of the Maritime’s Labor Convention official entrance into force on August 20th, the Maria Tsakos Foundation organized an international seminar in Athens on May 30-31, 2013 under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Shipping and the Aegean.  The primary objective was to explain MLC’s requirements and implications and provide advise on ways and means for its wide and effective implementation as it covers a wide range of matters of interest to seafarers, flag and port states and labor supply nations.

The Seminar was open to representatives of Governments, shipping companies, manning agencies, seafarer organizations, international shipping organizations, maritime universities, academics, students and any interested individual.

The seminar took place at the Eugenidion Foundation Conference Center.  Speakers included among others, dignitaries and representatives from international organizations, the IMO, ILO, the EU, shipping and seafarers’ organizations, the Greek Ministry of Shipping

Online registration is now closed

The seminar’s Brochure and program

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[tab title=”Day One – 30 May 2013″]

08:30 – 09:15 Registration

09:30 – 11:00 Opening Speeches:

Kostis Mousouroulis – Speech
Minister of Shipping and the Aegean

Mr. Fotis Karamitsos
Representative of the Vice-President and Transport Commissioner of the European Union

Mrs. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry
Representative of the Director General of ILO

Mr. Ashok Mahapatra – Opening speech
Representative of the Secretary-General of IMO

Mr. Peter Hinchliffe
Secretary-General, International Shipping Federation

Mr. Jon Witlow
Representative of the General Secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation

Mr. George A. Gratsos
President, Hellenic Chamber of Shipping

Mr. Haralambos I. Fafalios – Speech
Chairman, Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee

Mr. John Halas – Speech
General Secretary, Panhellenic Seamens’ Federation

Captain Panagiotis N. Tsakos – Opening Speech
Founder, “Maria Tsakos” Foundation

11:00 – 11:30 Coffee break

11:30 – 11:45 Administrative Matters

11:30 – 11:35 Safety/Security measures
Representative of the Eugenides Foundation

11:35 – 11:45 Structure of the Seminar – Working hours and social events Rear Admiral Stavros Michailidis HCG (Rtd), General Manager, “Maria Tsakos” Foundation – Speech

11:45 – 13:00 1st Session: General Introduction to the MLC

11:45 – 11:55 Moderator: Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry,
Director, International Labour Standards Department, ILO

11:55 – 12:15 Developing the MLC
Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, ILO

12:15 – 12:30 The role of IMO in the development of the MLC – Presentation
Ashok Mahaparta, Senior Deputy Director, Head of Operational Safety and Human Element, Maritime Safety Division, IMO

12:30 – 12:45 The role of the shipping industry – Speech
Peter Hinchliffe, Secretary-General, ISF

12:45 – 13:00 The role of seafarer organizations
Jon Whitlow, Secretary, ITF Seafarers’ Section

13:00 – 14:30 Lunch Break

14:30 – 16:00 2nd Session: The role of Governments

14:30 – 14:40 Moderator: Rear Admiral George Boumpopoulos HCG, Ministry of Shipping and the Aegean

14:40 – 15:00 Duties and obligations of flag States (a)
Lt. Commander Vanessa Antonakou HCG, Ministry of Shipping and the Aegean

15:00 – 15:20 Duties and obligations of flag States (b)
George Gavriel, Hellenic Chamber of Shipping

15:20 – 15:40 Duties and obligations of port States
Theresa Crossley, Head, Implementation Department, EMSA introduced by Fotis Karamitsos, Deputy Director General, Mobility and Transport, European Commission

15:40 – 16:00 Questions and answers

16:00 – 16:30 Coffee/tea break

16:30 – 18:00 3rd Session: The role of shipping companies

16:30 – 16:40 Moderator: Peter Hinchliffe,
Secretary-General, ISF

16:40 – 16:55 Ensuring compliance with the MLC – Speech
Spyros Polemis, former President of ICS/ISF

16:55 – 17:10 The role of class
Tom Boardley, Chairman, IACS Council

17:10 – 17:25 The role of manning agencies
Roberto Giorgi, President, V Ships

17:25 – 17:40 The MLC from a shipmanager’s point of view –Presetation
Captain Dirk Fry, Managing Director, Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd

17:40 – 18:00 Questions and answers

18:30 – 20:00 Reception at the Roof Garden of Metropolitan Hotel, Athens

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[tab title=”DAY TWO – 31 MAY 2013″]

09:30 – 10:45 4th Session: Seafarers’ welfare

09:30 – 09:40 Moderator: Jon Whitlow, ITF

09:40 – 09:55 Why welfare is important to shipowners
George Koltsidopoulos, Union of Greek Shipowners

09:55 – 10:10 The role of the Mission to Seafarers
Rev. Canon Ken Peters, Director of Justice and Welfare,
Mission to Seafarers

10:10 – 10:25 Seafarers’ welfare – An academic’s view
Bjorn Kjerfve, President, World Maritime University

10:25 – 10:45 Questions and answers

10:45 – 11:15 Coffee break

11:15 – 14:00 Concluding Session

11:15 – 12:15 Moderator: Efthimios E. Mitropoulos – Speech
Chairman, “Maria Tsakos” Foundation
Panelists
Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry
Ashok Mahapatra
Peter Hinchliffe
George Boumpopoulos
Jon Witlow

12:15 – 12:30 Vote of Thanks

12:30 – 12:40 Concluding remarks
Captain Panagiotis N. Tsakos

12:40 – 14:00 Buffet lunch
End of seminar
Afternoon Guided tour of the Acropolis Museum

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