![Semiramis Paliou re-elected president of HELMEPA](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/semiramis.jpg)
With a large participation of representatives of the maritime community, the 40th annual General Assembly of the Hellenic Association for the Protection of the Marine Environment – HELMEPA was held, in which the nominations for the new Board of Directors were also held. The new Board of Directors convened as follows:
President: Semiramis Paliou, Vice-Presidents: Ioannis Xylas, Karageorgiou Georgios, Secretary: Irini Daifa, Special Secretary: Georgios Kallianis, Treasurer: Aristides Pittas, Deputy Treasurer: Kalli Livanou and members: Andreas Giakoumelos, Michael Dalakouras, Panagiotis Zachariadis, Francis Kanellakis, Ioanna Martinou, Athanasios Beis, Christos Degiannis, Milena Pappa, Eleni Polychronopoulou, Theodosis Stamatellos, Maria Hatziioannou. The General Secretary of PNO, Mr. Emmanouil Tsikalakis, participates in the Board of Directors ex officio, according to the Association’s statutes.
In 2022, HELMEPA members comprised 296 member companies, 2,142 ships and 14,000+ seafarers.
HELMEPA’s fundamental pledges
- Supports the aim for “Safe Ships in Clean Seas” of the International Maritime Organization.
- Operates as a private, not-for-profit and non-bureaucratic entity.
- Has as its exclusive means of income the annual fees and donations made by its members, excluding its seafarer-members.
- Cultivates and promotes an environmental consciousness across all ranks of the maritime community, using every means of information, updating and publicity.
- Encourages the compliance with both national and international laws and regulations that Greece has ratified, governing pollution prevention and safety at sea.
- Assists the Greek State in relation to international legislation on the protection of the marine environment.
- Promotes the international effort that unites environmental regulations and voluntary will towards the elimination of ship-generated pollution and the upgrading of safety at sea.
- Accepts into its membership ship owners, managing companies and ship’s agents, masters, deck and engineer officers, ship’s crew members as well as other organizations and stakeholders from the broader Greek and international maritime and business community.
- Issues a Certificate of Membership to companies and individuals who, by becoming a member, undertake to uphold the commitment to support HELMEPA’s Inaugural Declaration.
- Revokes or suspends a Certificate of Membership in the event that its holder is legally convicted of polluting and/or fails to voluntarily inform HELMEPA of this or is indifferent to the principles the Certificate of Membership represents.
- Recognizes and rewards personal or stakeholder achievements in the areas of pollution prevention and maritime safety.
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