Capital Link is hosting the 9th Annual Capital Link Cyprus Shipping Forum on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at the Columbia Plaza in Limassol, Cyprus.
The Forum takes place under the Auspices of the Shipping Deputy Ministry of Cyprus and the Shipping Deputy Minister to the President and in cooperation with the Cyprus Union of Shipowners, which is also the Lead Sponsor. The event is also supported by the Cyprus Shipping Chamber and the other major stakeholders of the Cyprus maritime cluster.
Forum Agenda
WELCOME REMARKS
9:00 – 9:05 AM
Mr. Nicolas Bornozis, President – Capital Link, Inc.
Mr. George A. Tsavliris, Principal – Tsavliris Salvage Group
Conference Chairman
CYPRUS MARITIME CLUSTER IN THE SPOTLIGHT
STRENGTH, RESILIENCE, & GROWTH
Keynote Presentation Followed by a 1×1 Discussion
9:05 – 9:40 AM
Minister Marina Hadjimanolis
Shipping Deputy Minister to the President
Republic of CyprusWith: Mr. Nicolas Montanios, Partner – Montanios & Montanios LLC
KEYNOTE REMARKS
EUROPEAN TRANSPORT & MARITIME POLICY AT A TURNING POINT
The Role of Shipping in Europe’s Connectivity, Competitiveness, and Sustainability
9:40 – 9:55 AM
Ms. Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi
Chair, Committee on Transport and Tourism
European Parliament
CAPITAL LINK LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD CEREMONY
9:55 – 10:00 AM
Honoree:Mr. Acis Montanios
Chairman of the Board & CEO
Montanios & Montanios LLCNET ZERO – REGULATORY UPDATE
10:00 – 10:15 AM
Presented by:
Mr. Theo Kourmpelis, Global Business Director for Tankers – Lloyd’s Register
THE DEBATE FOR NET ZERO – IMPLICATIONS ON FLEET RENEWAL
Navigating Through Commercial & Regulatory Uncertainty
10:15 – 10:55 AMModerator: Mr. Vassilis Dimoulas, M&O EMA Technology & Innovation Director – Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore
Panelists:
Mr. Antonis Faraklas, Managing Director – Charterwell Maritime S.A. and Chartworld Shipping Corporation
Dr. George D. Pateras, Deputy Chairman – Contships Management Inc.; Former President – Hellenic Chamber of Shipping (2016-2025)
Capt. Eberhard Koch, Chairman, CEO & Partner – Österreichischer Lloyd Shipping Group (OL Shipping)
Dr. Loukas Barmparis, President – Safe Bulkers, Inc. (NYSE: SB)
SHIPPING IN THE AI ERA – OPTIMIZING THE COMMERCIAL & OPERATIONAL LANDSCAPE
11:00 – 11:40 AMModerator: Mr. Joe Woods, Senior Vice President, Business Development – ABS Consulting
Panelists:
Mr. Konstantinos Vlachos, COO – CASTOR
Mr. Dimitris Vastarouchas, Chief Operating Officer & Vice President – Danaos Corporation (NYSE: DAC)
Mr. Konstantinos Stampedakis, Co-Founder & Managing Director – ERMA TECH GROUP
Mr. Vasileios G. Petousis, Energy & Sustainability Manager – Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: SHIP)
SHIPMANAGEMENT – WHAT’S NEXT?
Safety, People, & Performance in a Changing Maritime Landscape
12:10 – 12:50 PMModerator: Mr. Nicos Attas, Marine Manager – RINA Cyprus
Panelists:
Mr. Basil Sakellis, CEO – Alassia NewShips Management
Capt. Franck Kayser, COO – Asyad Shipping Company
Mr. Dieter Rohdenburg, CEO – InterMaritime Shipmanagement Ltd.
Mr. Prabhat Kumar Jha, Group Managing Director & CEO – MSC Shipmanagement Ltd., Cyprus
CAPITAL AT SEA: THE STATE OF SHIP FINANCE
12:50 – 1:30 PMModerator: Mr. George Zambartas, Head of Ship Finance – Limassol – Hill Dickinson LLP
Panelists:
Dr. Nikolaos Kagkarakis, Shipping Finance Senior Relationship Manager – Alpha Bank S.A
Mr. Nicholas Pavlidis, Head of Shipping – Bank of Cyprus
Mr. Philipp Wünschmann, Head of Shipping – Berenberg
Mr. Aris Patounas, Head of Shipping – Eurobank Ltd.
Mr. Jan William Denstad, CEO & Founding Partner – Sole Projects Ltd.
ADVANCING ENERGY SECURITY: THE VERTICAL CORRIDOR AND
US-CYPRUS COOPERATION IN THE NEW ENERGY LANDSCAPE
2:30 – 3:00 P
Moderator:
Ms. Dorothea Ioannou
Chief Executive Officer
American P&I Club
Minister Michael Damianos
Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry
Republic of Cyprus
Dr. Daniel E. Mangis
Chargé d’ Affaires ad interim
U.S. Embassy in Nicosia, Cyprus
SHIPPING AT THE INTERPLAY OF GLOBAL COMMERCE, REGULATIONS, & GEOPOLITICS
3:05 – 3:45 PM
Moderator: Mr. Andreas Papachristodoulou, Partner – Stephenson Harwood
Panelists:
Mr. Mark O’Neil, President & CEO – Columbia Group; President – InterManager (2020-2024)
Mr. Spyros Vlassopoulos, Managing Director – Ionic
Mr. Filippo Fabbri, CEO – Lockton P.L. Ferrari
Ms. Eman Abdalla, Founder & Managing Partner – SeaThrew
CHARTERERS’ INSIGHTS: IS THE COMMODITY RALLY FUELING
THE HOT CAPESIZE MARKET FOR THE REST OF 2026?
3:50 – 4:20 PMModerator: Mr. Polys Hajioannou, CEO – Safe Bulkers, Inc. (NYSE: SB); President – Cyprus Union of Shipowners
Panelists:
Mr. Tim Barrett, Capesize Global Trading Manager – Cargill Ocean Transportation
Mr. Carl Andrew Dacombe, Head of Capesize Trading – Mercuria Shipping Pte Ltd
SHIPOWNERS IN ACTION
INVESTING, OPERATING, & COMPETING IN A CHANGING MARKET
4:25 – 5:15 PMModerator: Mr. Leonidas Karystios, Regional Business Development Director & Global Fleet Technology Director – Gas Carriers – DNV Maritime
Panelists:
Mr. Andreas Hadjiyiannis, CEO – Cyprus Sea Lines / Hellenic Tankers; Former President – Cyprus Union of Shipowners
Mr. Filippos Efstathiou, Founding Principal – Efnav Company Ltd.
Mr. Aristides J. Pittas, Chairman & CEO – Euroseas Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESEA); EuroDry Ltd. (NASDAQ: EDRY); Euroholdings Ltd.
Mr. George Mouskas, President – Olympia Ocean Carriers; Vice President – Cyprus Union of Shipowners
Mr. Polys Hajioannou, CEO – Safe Bulkers, Inc. (NYSE: SB); President – Cyprus Union of Shipowners
CLOSING REMARKS
5:20 – 5:25 PM
Mr. George A. Tsavliris, Principal – Tsavliris Salvage Group
Conference Chairman