The International Conference of Maritime Law is being organized by the Piraeus Bar Association every three years in the city of Piraeus from 1992 onwards. It falls within the context of the multifaceted and important work of the Piraeus Bar Association, which, since its foundation under Law 1866/1920 as a public law legal person, does not confine itself to the professional matters of its members, but it also creates appropriate conditions for the highlighting of matters concerning the legal world of the country, matters of protection of the democratic institutions, the protection of the environment, the promotion of the legal culture and the improvement of the political and social standards, the preservation of moral identity and the protection of the national integrity.
The Piraeus Bar Association numbers in its ranks the majority of Greek lawyers involved in maritime law cases and members of the Hellenic Maritime Law Association. Besides that, it resides in the center of the maritime developments of the country, as the port of Piraeus is the main port of Greece and one of the most important ports in the Mediterranean. Within the Court of First Instance of Piraeus a maritime section has been established, which is competent for the settlement of the maritime disputes.
Thus, the launching of an initiative by the Piraeus Bar Association for the establishment of an institution of international profile, into which was developed the International Conference of Maritime Law, was considered to be an imperative need. Through this it is aimed to keep track of the development of the rules of private and public maritime law and of their implementation, to point out any eventual misinterpretations and imperfections, to indicate the appropriate solutions and facilitate the international unification of substantive law ruling the organization and the functioning of shipping.
The institution has already completed 33 years, during which ten (10) International Conferences have been held. In each of the events a modern subject is chosen carefully within the sector of Maritime Law, which is brought for research and scientific debate aiming at the quest of solutions to the issues arising in relation with the shipping market, as well as the promotion of the theoretical debate as a means of advancement of the science of Maritime Law. The participation of both Greek and foreign expert Speakers of recognized international prestige is of outstanding importance for the achievement of these goals.
Antonis Antapasis, son of Michael (1941-2013)
The first President of the Organizing Committee and the initiator of the Conference was the late Professor Antonis Antapasis.
He was born in 1941 in Nisyros, Dodecanese.
He received his law degree from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in 1964, continued his studies in Strasbourg (Master’s degree in European Law from the University-Centre for European Studies there, 1968) and in Brussels (special degree in maritime law from the Free University of Brussels, 1969). Under the supervision of Professor Konstantinos Rokas, he completed his doctoral dissertation entitled “Requirements for Enjoying Maritime Privileges”, which was accepted by the Athens Law School with honors (1976),
Antonis Antapassis entered the Law School of the University of Athens in 1970 and since then he has passed through all levels of the academic hierarchy. He left the service in September 2008 due to age limits. The Senate of the University of Athens awarded him the academic title of Professor Emeritus.
At the same time, he developed a large and multifaceted scientific activity, in Greece and internationally. He has repeatedly been a member of legislative committees, such as the one that drafted the Code of Aviation Law. He was President of the Legislative Committee for the reform of the Commercial Code and a member of the Committee for the drafting of the Commercial Code. He was also President of the Competition Commission during the period 1989-1990, member of the Court of Miscarriage of Justice (1990 and 2000), Member of the Board of Directors of the Aegean Institute for the Law of the Sea and Maritime Law based in Rhodes. He was also a member of the Legal Council of PPC (1989-1993), director of the legal journal “Piraeus Jurisprudence”, published by the Piraeus Bar Association, from 1979 to 1993, Honorary Member of Comite Maritime International, President of the Hellenic Association of Maritime Law for decades (1990-2013), Member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Greek Commercial Lawyers, Member of the Association of Greek Consultants, of the Private International Law Society, of the Society of Forensic Studies and the Society of Nisyrian Studies. He has repeatedly been a member of committees of inquiry for the granting of a lawyer’s license and for the recruitment of administrative employees and judicial assistants of the ordinary Judiciary. He organized and chaired the first seven International Conferences of Maritime Law of the Piraeus Bar Association. He has also taken part in many other Greek and international conferences.
His professional activity was also rich. He practiced law as a Piraeus Lawyer from 1967 to 2013, mainly dealing with merchant shipping cases. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Piraeus Bar Association (from 16.3.1978 to 16.3.1984), Arbitrator of the International Chamber of Commerce, the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping and the Maritime Arbitration Association.
His writing was also rich.
Lia I. Athanasiou: President (2012- )
In 2012, Professor Antapasis was succeeded by the Professor of the Law School of Athens and attorney-at-law at the Piraeus Bar Association Lia I. Athanasiou in the presidency of the Organizing Committee. The 8th Conference, which was conducted under the new Organizing Committee, was dedicated to the memory of the Chairman of the Hellenic Maritime Law Association, Professor Emeritus Anthony Antapassis, as a minimum recognition for his contribution to the promotion of international maritime and commercial law. It is noted that after the retirement of the Professor from Athens Law School, Ms Athanasiou had also undertaken the academic teaching of Maritime Law.
The new President of the Organizing Committee, graduate with honors from the Faculty of Law, has notable studies in major foreign Institutions: Postgraduate degrees (D.E.A.) in France, in the field of Commercial Law (University of Aix-Marseille III) and General Private Law (University of Paris II- Panthéon-Assas), Doctoral degree from the University Paris I-Panthéon- Sorbonne with summa cum laude and first class honors (“très honorable avec félicitations”) in European Competition Law (“Legal aspects of competition in maritime transport and comparative study based on EU Law”), for which she received seven international prizes and honorary publication grants. She also obtained an Academic title to supervise scientific research from the University of Paris I-Panthéon-Sorbonne.
Today she is Professor with senior full-time tenure at the Law School of Athens, in the field of Commercial and Maritime Law. She is also the Director of the Post Graduate Program on Business Law with a specialization in Maritime Law at the above University. She has taught or carried out research in European and American Universities and Institutes (Bologna, Maastricht Institute, Erasmus University-Rotterdam, International Maritime Law Institute IMO of Malta, Harvard Law School as a visiting scholar with a Scholarship from Fulbright Foundation, IALS London etc.).
She is Barrister at law entitled to plead before the Supreme Court with experience in consulting and arbitration and member of member of the Central Mediation Committee.
Since 2015 she is appointed member of the Committee of Experts of the International Labor Organisation (ILO – Geneva). She has been external legal advisor at the European Commission in matters concerning competition and liberalization in the transport sector, a member of the Hellenic Competition Commission and advisor of Independent Authorities.
Professor Athanasiou also served as President of the Legislative Committee which reformed the Greek Code of Private Maritime Law (Law 5020/2023) and as Member of many legislative committees in several fields of commercial law (corporate law, consumer protection, competition, maritime law, energy law).
She already has extended authorial activity (monographs, publications, participations in collective publications and numerous studies) on issues of European, Maritime, Commercial, Competition and Transport law in general, in English, French and Greek language. Among the more recent books and monographs, “Treatise on Maritime Law” (2025, in Greek), “Maritime Cross-border Insolvency” (Informa 2018) and “Competition and Regulation in Shipping and Shipping Related Industries” (Martinus Nijhoff, 2009 in English). She also serves as Director of two publication series for Maritime Law, in Greek.
She has made numerous interventions in international and Greek conferences in the same field.
Members of the Organizing Committee
The success of the International Conference was ensured from the beginning by the collective effort and the active contribution of all the members of the Organizing Committee. Their contribution to the organization, the new ideas, the finding of sources of funding and of sponsorships, the hospitality they demonstrated to foreign speakers and guests, as well as their effective participation in the thematic sessions, was undoubtedly of essential significance. For this reason, the composition of the Organizing Committees of the International Conferences of Maritime Law is mentioned by name below.
Administration of the Piraeus Bar Association
All the Presidents (V. Venetis, K. Petalas, St. Manousakis, G. Stamatogiannis and I. Klappas) and the administrations of the Piraeus Bar Association from 1992 onwards support constantly and in a multilevel way the international institution of the Maritime Conference, independently of political differences, opposing opinions in matters concerning the practice of the profession of lawyer and negative external circumstances, such as the economic crisis, which entered our country since 2009. The special trust, care and support with which the Boards of Directors of the Piraeus Bar Association embraced the organization, the speakers and the participants needs to be highlighted. Under the auspices of the Bar and through its connections with local, national and international agents (Union of Greek Shipowners, Banks, Chamber of Shipping, Universities, European Lawyers’ Association) became a fact not only the establishment of the institution in the scientific status quo of the country and the development of our Bar as a guide of promotion of maritime law, but also the cultivation of the cooperation with professional sectors of the broader shipping industry and the services relevant to it.
Following the decision of the Piraeus Bar Association and the presidency of Vasileios Venetis, the 1st International Conference of Maritime Law was held on 28-30 May 1992 and dealt particularly with the protection of maritime creditors.
The choice of this subject was made in a period when the matter of the revision of the Greek maritime legislation had been agitated, the elaboration of new international conventions regarding the arrest of ships and the maritime liens and mortgages was already in progress within the International Maritime Organization, while in the context of the former European Economic Community, the debate on the regulation of the regime regarding the liens and the study of the institutions which provide for the protection of maritime creditors, had been activated. These parameters made the subject of the protection of maritime creditors an appropriate choice for an International Conference of Maritime Law, especially during that period so that its examination was based on scientists of significant legal speech from various countries, who responded with overwhelming enthusiasm.
The protection of maritime creditors as a legal matter is interesting both for shipowners and for the persons who fund the shipbuilding or the sale of ships – as the shipbuilding and the sale of a ship creates obligations – and for those who become creditors at the stage of the economic operation of the ship.
The 1st International Conference of Maritime Law aimed to give information about the various institutions of maritime credit in Greece and in other maritime countries, to explain the reasons justifying them, to examine their functioning and effectiveness in the national and international field, to explore the relevant regulations of international conventions and the level of adjustment of national legislation to them, to point out solutions that meet the modern conditions in the function of commercial shipping market.
In the context of the Conference the following papers were presented:
The late Professor Leonidas Georgakopoulos analyzed the modern problems of protection of the creditors of the ship. Professor Aliki Kiantou-Pampouki examined the matter of the protection of the creditors in shipping companies through the lifting of the corporate veil. The first session was completed with the presentation of Professor Foivos Christodoulou, who dealt with an issue regarding the ship as a special asset of the shipowner’ s property. In the second session the speakers dealt with the subject of the Conference from the aspect of private international law. Two lectures were presented, the one by Professor Spyridon Vrellis titled “The protection of maritime creditors and the Greek private international law” and the other by William Tetley titled “Special legislative rights, maritime liens, mortgages, claims and conflicts of law”. The morning session of the second day of the Conference was chaired by Nicolas Healy. In this session Α. Philip presented the “European Judgement convention from the aspect of maritime law, in particular, maritime creditors”, Professor Emmanuel du Pontavice examined the “Applications récentes de la saisie conservatoire de navires: théorie de l’émanation et navires apparentés”, Professor Martine Rémond-Gouilloud presented the paper under the title “L’abus des procédures de saisie – conservatoire de navires”, N.J.J. Gaskell elaborated the subject “Topics related to the mareva injuction” and J.D. Kimbal who closed the session with the paper “Protection P&I Clubs in maritime bankruptcies”. The afternoon session was chaired by J.F.F. Cadwallader. The issue of the protection of maritime creditors in national law was particularly approached in the papers of J.C. Schultsz “The protection of maritime creditors in the new Netherlands code” and H. Lange “The protection of maritime creditors in Belgian law”. The last day of the Conference and under the session which was chaired by Ioannis Schinas, certain issues regarding the protection of maritime creditors were examined. Professor Filippos Doris gave an approach of the legal position of the ship’s creditors in case of transfer of its ownership, Rolf Herber presented his paper “Protection of maritime creditors by maritime liens”, while Panagiotis Sotiropoulos dealt with matters relating to the mortgage on ships. Professor Ioannis Rokas raised the issue of security and insurance of maritime creditors. The 1st Conference of International Maritime Law was completed with the paper presented by the President of the Organizing Committee, Anthony M. Antapassis, the subject of which was the operation of the ship by a third party and the protection of maritime creditors.
The minutes and reports of the Conference were published in 1994 by the publishing house “A. Sakkoulas” in the special volume titled “The protection of maritime creditors”, with the care of the Piraeus Bar Association.
Board of Directors of the Piraeus Bar Association
V. Venetis President, G. Georgatos Vice President, K. Gkaveras Secretary General, K. Petalas Treasurer, Members: A. Alexandropoulou-Alevromyti, G. Apostolidis, M. Vrachnou, I. Iriotis, L. Theodorou, L. Kaltsas, I. Karkoulias, E. Kotsonis, I. Lymperopoulos, M.-A. Malikoutis, N. Triantafyllos.
Organizing Committee of the Conference
A. Antapasis President, M. Kargakou, A. Lampropoulos Secretaries, Members: S. Giannakakis, G. Georgakarakos, N. Gogios, S. Kousoulis, V. Lykouris, G. Bairaktaris, A. Nikolaras, D. Rediadis, G. Savvopoulos, K. Sampson, N. Skorinis, G. Timagenis.
Editing
Anthony M. Antapassis, Paris A. Asanakis, Giolanta Vasileiou, Olga Vlavianou, Deukalion G. Rediadis.
The 2nd International Conference of Maritime Law, which was held on 25-27 May 1995, dealt with the ship’s operation and the freedom of contracts. Its main purpose was to explore the freedom of the parties
in the various categories of contracts regarding the services provided by or to the ship or the financial use of the ship, to clarify the reasons justifying the different level of freedom of the parties in these contracts and to examine whether the limitation of freedom of contracts due to introduction of mandatory rules is the most adequate solution or whether other/additional solutions need to be explored.
The Conference was structured around three sessions: The first one dealt with contracts on the basis of which the owner of the ship cooperates with owners of other ships for its operation (consortia, liner conferences) or these contracts used for the intervention of a third party in the ship’s operation (ship management contracts, bareboat charter contracts, time charter contracts). The second session was dedicated to the contracts of carriage of passengers or goods by sea. The third session included the contracts ancillary to shipping (recruitment contracts of the captain and the crew members, maritime agency contracts, marine salvage and towage contracts, navigation contracts and marine insurance contracts).
In the context of the Conference the following papers were presented:
The Conference started with the paper of Professor Ioannis Schinas who dealt with the “freedom of contract, balancing of interests and public order in the law of chartering”. Subsequently, Jan Ramberg presented a paper on “The proper delimitation of mandatory rules in the law of carriage of goods by sea”, Professor Apostolos Georgiadis elaborated “The judicial review of the content of contracts of affreightment”. The first Session was completed with Eugenio Carnejo Fuller who presented his paper “Regulation or deregulation of the contract of carriage of goods by sea”. The afternoon Session, chaired by the Professor Athanasios Giannopoulos, started with a presentation by the Professor Foivos Christodoulou “Limits of the freedom of contract in chartering” and the presentation by Jose Domingo Ray of the “Freedom of contract and mandatory rules in carriage of goods and analysis relating to charter parties, bills of lading and some other documents through argentine law and international conventions”. In the first Session of the second day, chaired by the Professor Panagiotis Soldatos, Professors Michael F. Sturley made a presentation on ”Forum selection and arbitration clauses under section 3(8) of the U.S. Carriage of goods by sea act: Statutory intent and judicial interpretation”, Sergio Carbone and Francesco Munari dealt with “Port services ancillary to navigation between market and safety requirements” and Konstantinos Pampoukis examined “Shipping conferences and consortia in competition law of the European Community”. In the afternoon Session, chaired by the Professor Roger Roland, Professor Leonidas Georgakopoulos presented “The limitation of the freedom of maritime contracts by marine insurance law”, Antoine Vialard dealt with “La liberté contractuelle en matière d’assurances maritimes: l’ exemple français” and Enrique de Alba, closed the Session with the subject “Ships operation and freedom of contract. Freedom of the parties to choose forum and substantive law – Panamanian experience”. The Session of the last day chaired by the Professor Aliki Kiantou-Pampouki started with the presentation of Pavlos Avrameas: “Limits of the freedom of the parties in ship management contracts”. Panagiotis Papatheodoropoulos followed who elaborated the subject “The freedom of the parties at the time of the conclusion of the seafarer’s employment agreement”, Athanasios Alycatoras dealt with the matter “Applicable law and jurisdiction in seafarers recruitment contracts on the basis of the Community contracts of Rome (1980), Brussels (1968) and Donostia/San Sebastian (1989)”. Mikes Kountouris presented “The freedom of the parties at the time of conclusion of the seafarer’s employment agreement and particularly when settling claims arising out of maritime work accident”. Antonis M. Antapasis closed the circle of presentations of the Conference with the analysis of the subject “The freedom of the parties in marine salvage contracts”. Once the presentation of the papers had been completed, there was given some time for the presentation of the interventions of Panagiotis Papanikolaou on “The doctrinal inclusion of the provision of the article 253 of the Code of Private Maritime Law in the system of individual protection against the danger of abuse of the freedom of contract in the Civil Code”, of Isabelle Corbier on “Remorquage maritime et libre enterprise” and Emily Derogée-van Roosmalen on “Freedom of contract and “piercing or lifting of the corporate veil” in the Netherlands”.
The minutes and reports of the Conference were published in 2000 by the publishing house “A. Sakkoulas” in the special volume “Ship’s operation and the freedom of contract”, with the care of the Piraeus Bar Association.
Board of Directors of the Piraeus Bar Association
V. Venetis President, G. Apostolidis Vice President, K. Petalas Secretary General, P. Sampountzakis Treasurer, Members: A. Alexandropoulou-Alevromyti, S. Athanasakos, M. Vrachnou, G. Georgatos, I. Giatrakos, K. Gkaveras, P. Iliadis, L. Theodorou, I. Karkoulias, I. Klappas, E. Kotsonis, M. Ktistakis, P. Papanikolaou, G. Savvopoulos, G. Stamatogiannis.
Organizing Committee of the Conference
A. Antapasis President, M. Kargakou, A. Lampropoulos Secretaries, Members: Konstantinos Andreopoulos, N. Vourgidis, N. Gogios, Thom. Zafeiras, S. Kousoulis, Mikes Kountouris, G. Bairaktaris, N. Mpaltazanis, I. Neris, Ant. Papadimitriou, Pan. Papatheodoropoulos, K. Sapounakis, N. Skorinis, Grig. Timagenis.
Editing
Anthony M. Antapassis, Paris A. Asanakis, Olga Th. Vlavianou, Thomas V. Markezinis, Deukalion G. Rediadis.
The 3rd International Conference on Maritime Law, which was held on 27-30 May 1998, was dedicated to “the legal aspects of maritime accident” and intended to explore the legal provisions regarding the maritime accident’s prevention, consequences and ways of treatment.
The choice of this subject was made due to the increased importance of the rules regulating the prevention and the limitation of maritime accidents. The rules in question derive both from international and from national rules. However, the ever-increasing multitude of laws, as well as the complexity of the matters (both from legal and from practical aspect) induced concern about the legal uncertainty that could be caused. For this reason it was considered that efforts should be made for the systematization of the statutes and for their development and application in the context and with the assistance of an international organization. International Maritime Organization would be ideal to carry out this task, given its very broad acceptance by the international community, its specialized knowledge of maritime matters and its interstate character.
The conference was divided into three extended thematic sections.
The first section examined the prevention of maritime accidents, that is the legislative and regulatory provisions regulating the safety of the ship and the safety of navigation, as well as the matter of their application in practice.
In the second session took place the analysis of the way of treatment of a maritime accident after it has occurred as well as more specific matters arising out of it, such as the obligation to provide assistance, the organizing and coordination of the rescue services, the intervention of the coastal state etc.
Finally, the third session dealt with the accidents’ consequences and the civil, administrative and penal measures of treatment.
In the context of the Conference the following papers were presented:
The first session of the Conference was chaired by Mr Ioannis Schinas, Professor of Commercial Law at Democritus University of Thrace. Jacques de Dieu, envoy of the Maritime Safety, Environment and Technical Issues Department of the European Commission presented “The strategy for high quality shipping”, Iosif Tsalaganidis, President at the Piraeus Court of First Instance, on “The administrative review of maritime accident”, of Philippe Boisson, communications manager of Bureau Veritas, presented “The adoption and application of the legal regime concerning maritime safety” and Efthimios Mitropoulos, Director of the Department of Maritime Safety of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) analysed “The code for the investigation of maritime accidents and incidents”.
The second afternoon session was chaired by Foivos Christodoulou, Professor of Comparative Law at the University of Athens, and four speakers spoke successively: Marc Huybrechts, Professor of Maritime Law at the Universities of Leuven and Antwerp, elaborated the subject “The International Code of Safe Ship Management and its application on ferries and passenger ships – From the minimization of human omission to the achievement of the objective”, Lia Athanasiou, Dr.iur. – Attorney-at-law, examined “The problem of competition and of liability of classification societies– An aspect for maritime accident” and Sergio Carbone and Francesco Munari from the University of Genoa presented “The Community policy for the safety of the marine port area and the territorial waters: Regulations and perspectives”.
At the second day of the Conference and at the session chaired by Jean-Jacques Lavenue, Professor of Law of the Sea and of Maritime Activities at the University of Lille, Antoine Vialard, Professor at the University of Montesquieu presented “The obligation to provide assistance at sea”, Richard Shaw, Special scientific Researcher at the University of Southampton, presented “The International Convention on Salvage, 1989: Its dynamic and weaknesses”, Peter Wetterstein, Professor at Åbo University of Finland presented “Marine Salvage and marine environment”, while Mr Nikolaos Konstantinidis, Dr.iur. – Attorney-at-law, closed the session with his paper “Matters arising from shipwrecks situated in marine port area”. The Conference continued in the afternoon with the next session, chaired by the Professor of Maritime Law at the University of Texas, Michael Sturley. Polychronis Tsiridis, Dr.iur. – Attorney-at-law, presented his paper “The criminal approach of maritime accidents”, while Professor of International Law at the University of Athens Emmanouil Roukounas followed up on “Matters of International Law concerning maritime accidents“. Subsequently, Professor of Maritime Law and Natural Resources and Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University, Edgar Gold presented his paper “Liability and compensation for marine pollution: pursuit of realistic balance”.
The third and last day of the Conference, started with the session chaired by Professor of Civil Law and former Rector of the University of Athens Michail Stathopoulos. Aliki Kiantou-Pampouki, Professor Emeritus at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, made a presentation on “Matters of civil liability due to maritime accident”. Following, Rolf Herber, Attorney-at-law in Hamburg, examined “Joint liability in case of serious maritime accidents”, Panagiotis Sotiropoulos, Member of the Executive Board of Comité Maritime International elaborated a presentation on “The limitation of liability for claims from maritime accident”, while the lectures closed with the presentation of Anthony Antapassis, Professor of Commercial Law at the University of Athens and Chairman of the Hellenic Maritime Law Association on “General approach of the maritime accident as a legislative problem”. The Conference was completed with a general discussion and the conclusions of the Conference. Exceptionally, the papers and the minutes of this Conference have not been published.
Board of Directors of the Piraeus Bar Association
V. Venetis President, G. Apostolidis Vice President, K. Petalas Secretary General, A. Alexandropoulou-Alevromyti Treasurer, Members: G. Georgatos, I. Giatrakos, K. Gkaveras, K. Gourgarea, P. Iliadis, L. Theodorou, E. Kotsonis, I. Lymperopoulos, G. Stamatogiannis, S. Manousakis, P. Mantouvalos, M. Melissinos, Pan. Papatheodoropoulos, G. Savvopoulos, E. Tsouroulis.
Organizing Committee of the Conference
A. Antapasis President, Members: N. Skorinis, N. Gogios, G. Timagenis, P. Sioufas, G. Rediadis, A. Papadimitriou, L. Athanasiou, Th. Zafeiras, S. Kousoulis, G. Bairaktaris, N. Mpaltazanis, D. Astras, K. Markakis, P. Tsiridis, I. Iriotis, N. Konstantinidis, G. Oikonomou, S. Giannakakis, P. Pappas, I. Oikonomidis.
Executive Secretary
P. Asanakis, E. Veneti, O. Vlavianou, P. Theodoropoulos, O. Iosifidis.
The 4th International Conference of Maritime Law was held on 6-9 June 2001 and examined the liability to pay damages under Greek and International maritime law.
As had happened in each former event in the context of this institution, the choice of the subject was based on modern reflections and this subject was chosen with a view to the presentation of the matter of the compensation for damages in maritime law from a dynamic aspect. This Conference examined, especially from a legislative point of view, the liability to pay damages in the maritime field as an international problem, under Greek and International maritime law. The ship sails permanently at sea, it passes often from one legal system to another. Shipping is universal. Despite the admirable technical progress, the perils of navigation are always appreciable. Marine insurance has been greatly developed because of them. These factors imposed the formulation of special rules and principles in the maritime field concerning the liability to pay damages. In spite of the fact that these special rules come into force in the legal system of every maritime country, they have common characteristics, though they demonstrate great resistance to developments.
The 4th Conference was structured in three sections. In the first section the liability, contractual and in tort, to pay damages was examined. The analysis was not limited to the examination of these two forms of liability themselves, but it was also extended to the relations between contractual liability and liability in tort to pay damages. Of course the research included the matter of the strict liability and the increased liability in general due to personal fault of the liable person.
In the second section there was analyzed the compensation for damages. In particular, the aim was to examine the general or the precise calculation of the damages in the maritime field, the compensation of the injured party during they provided services, or as a result of it, to the ship, the compensation of the damage under the application of the provisions for general average, the compensation of damages of third parties, especially in case of environmental damage, as well as the examination of the relations between the compensation of the damages and marine insurance.
The third section focused on the important matter of the various forms of limitation of liability under Greek and International maritime law. The fact that the obligations to compensate damages obtained gradually greater social dimension, imposed in a more intense way the approach of the various forms of limitation of liability to compensate damages from a legislative aspect.
The papers presented in this Conference were the following: Emmanuel Achukwu presented “The limitation of shipowner’s liability – An overview of the Nigerian position”, José M. Alcantara dealt with the matter “The rule of restitutio in integrum in the measure of damages under maritime tort and contract”, Alberto Batini analyzed the subject: “Damages for wrongful arrest of a foreign ship in Italy: a serious risk for creditors?”, the Attorney-at-law at the Piraeus Bar Association Ioannis Vrellos presented: “Compensation owed by the shipowner – carrier in case of concurrence of contractual and tort liability”. Domingo G. Castillo elaborated the subject: “Limitation of liability in maritime accidents: The Philippine Experience”, Felix W. H. Chan – Wai Sum Chan analyzed the subject: “Actuarial assessment of damages in personal injury litigation: The Hong Kong position and the comparative international aspects”, Professor Eleni Gkologkina – Oikonomou dealt with the matter: “Liability to pay compensation for maritime claims, in full (Article 4 of the London Convention 1976, especially under Greek law)” and John Clegg analyzed the subject: “The elements and calculation of damages under U.S. Law for workers injured and killed aboard ship”. In addition, Emily Dérogée van Roosmalen and Taco van der Valk presented the paper entitled “Challenging the Himalaya in the Netherlands – The Dutch approach towards extra-contractual actions” and Nicholas Gaskell his paper: “Revision of the Athens Convention on the carriage of passengers and their luggage 1974”. Ranjan C. Gooneratne presented the paper: “Limitation of liability”, Patrick Griggs dealt with: “Proposals to amend the 1974 Athens Convention relating to the carriage of passengers by sea”, Giorgos Theocharidis procced with the presentation: “Protection from non-contractual modes of recovery in sea carriage. A comparison between Common Law and Civil Law systems” and John Karpousis examined: “Damages for maritime personal injury claims under United States Law”. Nikolaos Konstantinidis elaborated his paper under the title “Issues arising from the limitation of liability according to the International Convention of London (1976) (LLMC)”, Henry Li dealt with the matter: “Limitation of liability under the PRC maritime code” and Jonathan Lux with the matter: “Remedies – An overview of the various options”. Peter Gad Naschitz presented the subject: “The Legal Regime relating to cargo damage in Israel”, Aleka Sheppard – Mandaraka the subject: “The ISM and its effect on shipowners and managers liabilities” and Yves Tassel the subject: «Le dommage élément de la faute». Lim Tean dealt with the matter: “Limitation of liability for marine claims in Singapore”, Antoine Vialard elaborated his paper: “Le naufrage de l’Erika et la réparation des dommages de pollution par les hydrocarbures” and Hongxiu Yao presented the paper under the title: “On earner’s liability for delay damage claims under Chinese maritime law”.
The minutes and reports of the Conference were published in 2001 by the publishing house “A. Sakkoulas” in a special volume entitled “The liability to pay damages under Greek and International maritime law”, with the care of the Piraeus Bar Association.
Board of Directors of the Piraeus Bar Association
V. Venetis President, G. Apostolidis Vice President, K. Petalas Secretary General, A. Alexandropoulou-Alevromyti Treasurer, Members: Ioannis Athanasoulias, Maria Galanopoulou, Ioannis Giatrakos, Konstantinos Gkaveras, Konstantina Gourgarea, Argyrios Dimovic, Nikolaos Liapakis, Ioannis Lykouris, Stelios Manousakis, Dimitris Militsis, Panagiotis Papatheodoropoulos, Konstantinos Resvanis, Georgios Stamatogiannis, Thomas Stamopoulos, Evangelos Tsouroulis.
Organizing Committee of the Conference
A. Antapassis President, Members: Lia Athanassiou, Dimitrios Astras, Sotirios Giannakakis, Nikolaos Gogios, Thomas Zafeiras, Ioannis Iriotis, Mikes Kountouris, , Stylianos Kousoulis, Nikolaos Konstantinidis, Konstantinos Markakis, Georgios Bairaktaris, Nikolaos Mpaltazanis, Ioannis Oikonomidis, Georgios Oikonomou, Panagiotis Pappas, Antonis Papadimitriou, Deukalion Rediadis, Ioannis Sarantitis, Pavlos Sioufas, Nikolaos Skorinis, Paschalia Timageni, Polychronis Tsiridis.
Editing
Anthony M. Antapassis, Alexandra E. Christodoulea.
The 5th International Conference of Maritime Law on maritime pollution was held from 29 September to 2 October 2004. The examination of the issue of liability to pay damages under Greek and International maritime law which was the subject of the 4th International Conference of Maritime Law, organized by the Piraeus Bar Association- proved that the compensation for damages of third parties arising from pollution caused by ships or other floating constructions and especially the environmental damage, as well as the matter of sanctions (penal and administrative), should be subjected to more thorough research and dialogue, especially because the relevant decisions of the judicial and administrative authorities often cause complaints from the ship interests and the maritime industry interests.
The program of the Conference included two sessions. The first one was generally about the civil liability and more particularly the compensation for damages arising from pollution. The attention of the speakers and generally the participants focused, following relevant proposal by the Organizing Committee, on the national and international relevant provisions, also on pointing out their weaknesses and on submitting recommendations for their improvement. It was pointed out that the increase of the compensation for the damages should also satisfy the need for its prevention and that from this point of view, other matters regarding the urgent measures and the provision of places of refuge are of great interest.
The second session was about penal and administrative sanctions and especially the relevant decisions and their execution. It was clarified to the speakers and the participants that it was necessary to examine the applicable law in the major maritime countries, to search for the current weaknesses, to suggest measures for the improvement of the situation especially by systematizing and refining the international provisions, to examine the necessity as well as the possibility for the establishment of an international court for the prosecution for crimes of marine pollution, the empowering, or not, of the coastal state’s authority to taking and imposing administrative measures and sanctions, not only fines, but also other measures such as the prohibition of the vessel’s departure, the obligatory towing and generally the salvage of the ship in danger, the elimination of the consequences of the wreck etc.
The purpose of the 5th International Conference was to contribute, through fruitful academic dialogue, to the establishment of a belief of those who are engaged in maritime business that they could be the best allies to the State and the Environmental Organizations.
In the context of the Conference, the following issues were presented: Georgios Theocharidis “The significance of fault for the imposition of sanctions for marine pollution”, Nikolaos Konstantinidis “The disputing of the limitation of compensation for marine oil pollution”, Rea Mitropoulou “Insurance practices in cases of oil pollution-especially in case of accident”, Panagiotis Petropoulos “Administrative sanctions for oil pollution under Greek law”, Ioannis Rokas “The significance of the insurance of civil liability for the establishment of special civil liability of pollution offenders and of compensation for marine pollution”, Georgios Samiotis “The establishment of strict liability as fundamental instrument of policy against pollution in the international and national law”, Polychronis Tsiridis, Attorney-at-law, Piraeus Bar Association “The penal protection of sea environment in the EU”, Patrick Holloway “Civil liability arising from oil pollution in South Africa and this country’s attempts at prevention, including the policy on ports of refuge”, Mans Jacobsson “The international liability and compensation regime revisited”, Jean – Jacques Lavenue “Pour une responsabilité du propriétaire de la cargaison et de sacteurs engages dans l’ activité de transport par mer des hydrocarbures?”, Sarah Mathiopoulou “Places of refuge; indemnification and sanctions”, Jean – Serge Rohart: «L’ application des critères du fonds sur l’admissibilité des demandes: l’exemple et l’ “Erika”, Erik Rosaeg “Conflicts of Marine Liability Conventions”, Luis de San Simon “Ports of refuge. Recent legislation enacted in Spain after the disaster of “Prestige”, Francesco Siccardi “Pollution Liability and Classification Societies; is the system a fair one?”, Chan Leng Sun “Singapore legislation on Oil Pollution”, Greta Tellarini “International regulation on places of refuge”, Michael Tsimplis “A commentary on the Bunker Pollution Convention 2004”, and Antoine Vialard “Responsabilité limitée et indemnisation illimitée en cas de pollution des mers par hydrocarbures”. During the last day of the Conference, after the completion of the presentation of all the papers, were also elaborated the following interventions: of Michail Malermpas: “Establishment of an international institution for the imposition of sanctions in cases of extended and dangerous pollutions of international territorial waters, as well as of territorial waters and coasts”, of Iliana Christodoulou-Varotsi: “The sanctions in case of marine pollution from the aspect of Community law” and of Taco van der Valk: “Civil (third party) liability for marine pollution in the Netherlands”.
The minutes and reports of the Conference were published in 2004, with the care of the Piraeus Bar Association, by the publishing house “A. Sakkoulas” in a special volume entitled “Marine pollution: The problem of damages and penalties”.
Board of Directors – Piraeus Bar Association
K. Petalas President, E. Kotsonis- P. Iliadis Vice-Presidents, P. Papatheodoropoulos Secretary General, K. Resvanis Treasurer, Members: A. Alexandropoulou, G. Apostolidis, M. Galanopoulou, K. Gkaveras, K. Gourgarea, L. Theodorou, I. Karkoulias, N. Liapakis, S. Manousakis.
Organizing Committee
A. Antapassis President, Members: L. Athanassiou, D. Astras, N. Gerasimou, N. Gogios, Th. Zafeiras, I. Iriotis, G. Theocharidis, M. Kountouris, S. Kousoulis, N. Konstantinidis, K. Markakis, G. Bairaktaris, N. Baltazanis, I. Oikonomidis, G. Oikonomou, P. Pappas, A. Papadimitriou, G. Ramantanis, D. Rediadis, I. Sarantitis, P. Sioufas, N. Skorinis, P. Timageni, P. Tsiridis.
Direction of conference topics and material
Antonis M. Antapassis, M. Papadaki.
The subject of the 6th International Conference of Maritime Law, held on 4-6 October 2007, was the modern issues related to the marine insurance. The marine insurance has a close connection with the maritime commerce. This is why it constitutes one of the most ancient ways of protection of the maritime businessmen from losses due to maritime risks.
The maritime loan, an institution with Greek origins, paved the way to the marine insurance. Its difference lies in the fact that, while the maritime loan was in fact compensation paid before the loss of the ship, the marine insurance is a promise to pay compensation after the loss of the ship. Furthermore, the institution of general average, also an institution with Greek origins, is a special way of paying damages in maritime law. From a social and financial point of view, this institution is losing ground at the present period. In the past, the institution of general average was really helpful for the maritime activity, as it permitted to allocate the dangers related to it amongst all participants. This is why this institution paved the way to mutual insurance. The wide use of the institution of the marine insurance limited its importance. The sacrifices which are characterized as general average are by principle covered today by the insurance of the vessel and the cargo. Regulating the general average is in fact a way to regulate damages amongst the insurers.
In the first session papers were presented by Lia Athanassiou, Assistant Professor of Commercial Law in the Law School of Athens, Attorney-at-Law, on the “The problem of the international harmonization of maritime insurance law”, by Robert Merkin, Professor of Commercial Law in the University of Southampton, on “The Future of Marine Insurance Warranties In English Law” and by Antoine Vialard, Professor Em. in Bordeaux University on “La faute de l’ assuré dans le droit français des assurances maritimes”. The chairman of the second session Antonios Koutsofios, Attorney-at-law, gave the floor to the next speakers according to the programme. First presentation was made by Victoria Athanassopoulou, Attorney-at-law, Dr.iur., who lectured on “The principle of good faith in the contract of maritime insurance”. Mark Templeman, Attorney-at-law, Q.C., examined “Insurable interest in English Law: Touchstone or Millstone?” and Kyriaki Nousia, Lecturer in the University of Birmingham, developed the topic “Insurable interest in Marine Insurance Contracts in a Representative Sample of Common Law and Continental Law Jurisdictions: Time for Reform?”. In the first session of the second day, under the direction of the chairman Panagiotis Papatheodoropoulos, Attorney-at-law in the Piraeus Bar Association, were presented the lectures of: Jürgen Basedow, Professor of Commercial Law in the University of Hamburg, Director of the Max Planck Institution for Comparative and Private International Law, “Classification societies as marine insurers?”, Aliki Kiantou-Pampouki, Professor Em. in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, “The insurer’s liability in the event of damages caused by unseaworthiness”, Malcolm Clarke, Professor of Commercial Law in Cambridge University, “Scope of the law of misrepresentation and non-disclosure”, Christian Scapel, Professor of the Law and Political Department in the Marseille University, Attorney-at-law, “La subrogation de l’ assureur maritime” and Jerome Kullmann, Professor of Private Law in Paris-Dauphine University, Director of the Insurance Institution in Paris, “L’evanouissement du risque: pas de risque, pas de prime? L’exemple de la construction de navire et de l’assurance de la perte sur revente”. In the afternoon session of the same day under the direction of the chairman Nikolaos Baltazanis, Attorney-at-law, lectures were presented by: Koichi Otani, Professor of Commercial Law and Maritime Insurance Law in Waseda University “Cargo Insurance in Japan”, Taco van der Valk, Attorney-at-law (Rotterdam), “Recent Development sin Netherlands’ Cargo Insurance Law”, Vlassios Makris, Attorney-at-law, Dr.iur. “The problem of land risks in maritime insurance”, Georgios Theocharidis, Attorney-at-law, Dr.iur., Researcher in Athens University of Economics and Business, “Insurance of mortgage creditor’s of the ship interest”. In the last session of the Conference under the direction of chairman Mikes Kountouris, Attorney-at-law, Vassileios Kiantos, Professor Em. in Aristotle University of Thessaloniki made a presentation on “Conceptual characteristics of the marine insurance of anticipated profit”, Georgios Oikonomou, Attorney-at-law, on “Abandonment of the ship to the insurer” and Dimitrios Christodoulou , Lecturer of Commercial Law in Athens Law School, Attorney-at-law, who presented “Comparative remarks for the scope and the function of “held covered” clauses in maritime insurance contracts”. The Conference was completed with conclusions made by Professor Ioannis Rokas.
The minutes and reports of the Conference were published in a special edition under the title “Current issues of Maritime Insurance” published, with care of the Pireaus Bar Association, by A. Sakkoulas in 2010.
Piraeus Bar Association Board of Directors
K. Petalas President, P. Iliadis- A. Alexandropoulou-Alevromiti Vice-Presidents, K. Resvanis Secretary General, I . Giatrakos Treasurer, Members : G. Apostolidis, Th. Arvanitopoulos, M. Galanopoulou, K. Gourgarea, A. Dimovic, G. Karamizaris, N. Liapakis, S. Manousakis, P. Papatheodoropoulos, D. Pollalis, K. Sarigianni, E. Tsouroulis, M. Floropoulou-Makri. F. Chalkia.
Organizing Committee of the Conference
A. Antapassis President. Members: L. Athanassiou, D. Astras, N. Gerasimou, S. Giannakakis, N. Gogios, Th. Zafeiras, I. Iriotis, G. Theocharidis, G. Iatridis-Ramantanis, M. Kountouris, S. Kousoulis, N. Konstantinidis, K. Markakis, G. Bairaktaris, N. Baltazanis, I. Oikonomidis, G. Oikonomou, P. Pappas, A. Papadimitriou, D. Rediadis, I. Sarantitis, P. Sioufas, N. Skorinis, Pasch. Timageni, P. Tsiridis.
Scientific consultant
Ioannis Rokas, Professor of Commercial Law in Athens University of Economics and Business
The 7th International Conference of Maritime Law (30 September to 2 October 2010) examined the comparative and international aspects of the legal status of seafarers. This topic is of great interest not only on national but also on international level especially because of the ongoing increase of the flags of “convenience” in open registries, the employment on the ships of seafarers who are less and less connected with the flag of the ship’s state, as they originate from other countries, the creation of traditional maritime countries with a second register, where there are registered ships performing international voyages. On these ships as well as on those which are registered in Greece as foreign capitals, are employed on a broader scale, seafarers paid according to the salaries of their country of origin. These factors have weakened the significance of the law of the flag of the ship, they have practically influenced the legal status of the seafarers on an international level as well as the relevant social welfare and insurance, a fact that has caused many reactions.
In this context, the issue was examined in five thematic sessions. The first one was about the sources (national and international) of the maritime labour law. In the second one the applicable law in the maritime labour relationships was examined. The third one had as an objective the flag of the ship and its impact on the recruiting of the seafarers and the provided services, as well as the relevant reactions. The fourth one was about the agreements between shipowners and the representative organizations of the countries of origin of the seafarers, as well as between the shipowners and the International Transport Workers’ Federation. Τhe fifth and final session included issues concerning the illness, the work accident, the abandonment of seafarers in foreign countries, their social welfare and insurance and generally their protection.
The publication of this Conference, following the decision of the Piraeus Bar Association and the Organizing Committee of the 7th International Conference of Maritime Law, was dedicated to the memory of Professor of Civil Procedure Law Stelios Kousoulis, as a tribute to his contribution to the science of law and the activities of the Piraeus Bar Association.
First speaker, Ioannis Chamilothoris, Judge-President in the Court of Appeal in Athens, presented his lecture “The legal evolution of the Greek maritime labour law”. Subsequently, Francesco Munari, Professor of EU Law in Genova University, developed the topic “Recent EU developments on maritime labour standards”, Antonios Bredimas, Professor of International Law in the Law School of Athens, analysed the issue of “The protection of the seafarers’ health especially under the consolidated International Maritime Labor Convention of ILO” and Iliana Christodoulou-Varotsi, Attorney-at-law, Dr.iur., Professor in ACG Deree College, completed the session with the examination of “Critical Review of the Consolidated Maritime Labour Convention (2006) of the International Labour Organization: Limitations and Perspectives”. In the second session the chairman Hugues Fulchiron, Professor in Jean Moulin University in Lyon, first gave the floor to Kyriakos Oikonomou, Judge in the Court of Appeal in Piraeus, who analysed “The applicable law in the individual labor contracts- Legislation and application by the Greek courts”. Patric Chaumette, Professor of Labour and Social Security Law in the University of Nantes, lectured on “Les rattachements du travail maritime international. Le marin entre le navire, le port et sa résidence” and Ioannis Korotzis, f. Judge at the Court of Appeal of Piraeus, on “The Regulation 864/2007 (Rome II) regarding the applicable law to non-contractual obligations and its impact on the maritime labor law”. The second day of the Conference the chairman of the morning session Charalampos Machairas, Judge in the Court of Appeal of Piraeus, gave the floor to the first speaker Antonis Alapantas, Judge in the Court of First Instance of Piraeus, who lectured on the “Change of the flag of the and its impact on maritime employment”. Subsequently, Manolis Perakis, Attorney-at-law, Dr.iur., Special Researcher in the Law School of Athens, presented a paper under the title “Current tension of loosening of the bond between the flag of the ship and the applicable law on maritime employment” and Konstantinos Papadimitriou, Professor of Labour Law in the Law School of Athens developed the topic “The Viking case, CJEC regarding the seafarers right to strike due to change of the flag of the ship and its significance for the evolution of social Europe”. Last but not least, Deidre Fitzpatrick, Legal Counsellor of the International Transportation Federation, made a presentation on “Advancing seafarers rights”. In the afternoon session the chairman Stelios Stylianou, Attorney-at-law, gave the floor to Antonios Antapassis, Professor Emeritus of Commercial Law in the Law School of Athens who examined “The legal issues relating to the liability of the master of the ship”. Antoine Vialard, Professor Em. in the University of Bordeaux, developed the topic “La nationalité du capitaine d’ un navire sous pavillon français” and up next Athanassios Alykatoras, Attorney-at-law, presented an issue regarding “Abandoned crew: The Greek exrerience”. Thomas Mensah, f. President of the International Tribunal in Hamburg for the Law of the Sea, presented the topic “Abandonment of seafarers: Problems and Possible Solutions” and Vassileios Tountopoulos, Associate Professor of Commercial Law in the University of the Aegean, gave an approach on “The protection of seafarers in case of bankruptcy of the shipowner company”. On the last day of the Conference, Evangelos Tsouroulis, Attorney-at-law, chairman of the session, gave the floor to the next speaker of the Conference, Panagiotis Papatheodoropoulos, Attorney-at-law, who examined the “Exploring the protection provided to the seafarers in the event of illness. Proposal of essential legislative interventions”, Georgios Kontoseas, Attorney-at-law, on “Some issues arising out of the application of Greek law in work accident on ships”, Lia Athanassiou, Associate Professor of Commercial Law in the Law School of Athens, who examined “Maritime Labour and Piracy”. An intervention followed by Markos Karavias, Attorney-at-law, Dr.iur. on “Special maritime crimes of the Code of Public Maritime Law under the international prohibition of forced labor”. The Conference closed with the conclusions made by Grigorios Timagenis, Attorney-at-law, Dr.iur.
The minutes and reports of the Conference were published in a special edition under the title “Comparative and international aspects of the legal status of seafarers”, published with the care of the Piraeus Bar Association, by A. Sakkoulas in 2013 and was dedicated to the late Professor and member of the Piraeus Bar Association Stelios Koussoulis.
Piraeus Bar Association Board of Directors
Stylianos Manoussakis President, A. Alexandropoulou-Alevromiti- Konstantinos Resvanis Vice-Presidents, Georgios Stamatogiannis Secretary General, Dimitrios Pollalis Treasurer-Member, Members: Georgios Athanassopoulos, Evangelos Anagnostou, Maria Galanopoulou, Ioannis Giatrakos, Konstantina Gourgarea, Argyrios Dimovic, Elias Klapas, Emmanouil Kotsonis, Polychronis Perivolaris, Konstantinos Petalas, Kalliopi Sarigianni, Dimitrios Stathakopoulos, Evangelos Tsouroulis, Maria Floropoulou-Makri.
The 8th International Conference of Maritime Law had various challenges to deal with: the sudden loss of Professor A. Antapassis, the particularly adverse economic condition, the scientific and social withdrawal of the country that also afflicted the maritime community, the lack of sponsorship, the need for renewal.
The administration of the Pireaus Bar Association reacted vigorously, demonstrating, more than any other time, its trust to the institution of the Conference and its will to retain (and to develop) the added value of the conference. It proceeded to a renewal of the Organizing Committee to a great extent, combining the experience of older members with the suggestions of the newer ones.
The 8th International Conference that was held in 10-12 October 2013 and was dedicated to late Professor and President of the Hellenic Maritime Law Association A. Antapassis, was in many views innovative:
First of all, a synthetic and modern subject was chosen, which was of great theoretical and practical interest, not only for the shipping community of Greek interests but also for international community. It was about the “Shipping in periods of economic distress: financing- ship’s operation- enforcement”. It is indeed true that the current adverse economic conditions, like any cycle of economic depression, profoundly affect all aspects of the operation of a shipping company, starting with the financing terms and conditions, to the exploitation of the ship and the satisfaction of maritime creditors. Respectively, there gets tested the resilience of fundamental rules and institutions of maritime law (public and private), which have to be adjusted in order to organize, in the best possible way, the critical legal relationships. The example of the charter party agreement and the issues arising from the negligent performance or non-performance of the obligations of the parties are, in this regard, characteristic. The same thing happens with the lately recurrent phenomena of default of payment of debts by shipping companies and the resulting friction which occurs between the goals of maritime law and common insolvency proceedings. These indicative examples highlight more than ever the need for effective legal protection, judicial and extrajudicial, as well as the need to develop alternative ways of resolving maritime disputes, such as the solution through mediation. Greek and foreign lectures, of high quality, dealt with controversial and innovative matters in a well-documented and analytical way and they caused essential interventions from the part of the participants.
Secondly, a special website was created (www.piraeus2013imlc.gr) with complete information about the purposes, the content and the program of the Conference. The use of technology and the electronic promotion of the program in the media, universities and individuals, in combination with the ability to register online, enabled and increased the participation long before the date of the Conference.
Thirdly, there were many new participants. The total number of 780 registered participants, the participation of over 50 Professors and law practitioners of recognized prestige in maritime law, the scientific “representation” of over 10 countries as well as of the European Commission, the active participation and presence of the Judges, the creation of a special website, enriched the Conference beyond any doubt and were consisted the factors due to which the institution achieved its goal. It is worth mentioning that there was also broad participation of the new generation of “maritime law scientists”. As it is also proven from the registration catalogues many colleagues from every Bar Association, even colleagues who are living permanently or temporarily abroad, new lawyers, new judges, new legal counselors in law firms and banking institutions, rushed to participate in this symposium and actively participated until the end of it.
The Conference was structured in four sessions. At the first formal Session, the memory of Professor Emeritus Anthony Antapassis was honored by the Piraeus Bar Association, with regard to his scientific work and his institutional role by the representatives of the CMI and the academic community. The second Session focused on the financing of the ship and how this is affected by the economic crisis, with regard to its forms, the securities, the structure of the loan agreement and its termination thereof. The third Session examined the systemic operation of the maritime market and the use of the ship as the framework and the means, respectively, for the development of activity, but still through the same angle of economic instability. Special focus was given regarding the effectiveness of the mechanisms that have been established in international level to secure conditions of fair competition and the appropriateness of sanctions to be applied. In terms of private law, there was examined the impact of the crisis on the operation of the contract of carriage by sea and of the charterparty agreements, the possibility of disruption of contractual balance, the means of protecting the weaker party and the adequacy of the relevant legislative framework. The fourth and last Session was devoted to the means of protecting maritime creditors, both from a substantive and from a procedural law point of view. The relevant aim was not to describe the status quo, but to highlight the weaknesses and possible friction resulting from the involvement of numerous rules of law (e.g. maritime law and insolvency law) and more jurisdictions. In this sense, the arising differences are not only quantitative but also qualitative. At this point the research reached, inter alia, issues of cross-border maritime insolvencies, of foreign forced execution procedures and their recognition, of the difficulties of effective enforcement through judicial proceedings as to forced execution, and the advantages and disadvantages of alternative ways of resolving maritime disputes (arbitration and mediation).
Following the opening ceremony of the Conference, the first session was dedicated in memory of Professor Antapassis. Giorgio Berlingieri, Attorney-at-law, President- Italian Maritime Law Association, Vice-President of CMI, Christos Kanellakis, Attorney-at-law, Vice-President of the Greek Shipowners Union and Antoine Vialard, Professor Emeritus of Maritime Law, University of Bordeaux, addressed speeches in memory of the late Professor, at this session, at which chairman was Panagiotis Pikrammenos, f. Prime Minister, f. President of Conseil d’ Etat. In the memory of the Professor, an original, symbolic sculpture, which was especially carved especially for this occasion by Vaso Gkioni-Zisimopoulou was awarded by Stelios Manousakis, the President of the Piraeus Bar Association to Maria Antapassis-Pipili, Attorney-at-law. The award was followed by one minute’s silence in memory of the Professor, kept from the nearly seven hundred participants who were present at the Conference.
The second thematic topic followed, including two sessions. In the first session, chaired by the Vice-President of the Supreme Court (Areios Pagos) Athanassios Koutromanos, there were developed lectures by the Professor of Accounting and Finance in the Athens University of Economics and Business, Manolis Kavussanos, who presented the issue of the consequences of the financial crisis on maritime finance, the Attorney-at-law, Dr.iur., Polychronis Tsiridis, who developed the risks emerging from the criminalization of the maritime entrepreneurship and professions, the Associate Professor of Athens School of Law and Vice-President of the Hellenic Maritime Law Association, Lia I. Athanassiou, who developed the shipping financiers at the edge of Maritime and Insolvency Law and the Judge – President of Piraeus First Instance Court Charis Saramanti, who developed the terms and conditions of responsible lending and abusive termination of loan agreements. The next session was chaired by Richard Lyal, Director at the Legal Department of the European Commission. In this session the Professor of the University of Ghent (Belgium) and Director of Institute of Maritime Law and Public International Law Eduard Somers presented to the participants the role of maritime gatekeepers in the implementation of international safety rules. Michael Sturley, Professor at the University of Texas (USA), introduced an issue about the the impact of a new International Convention, the Rotterdam Rules, on the efficiency of the shipping Industry, while the Attorney-at-law Simon Curtis analyzed the impact of financial crisis on another issue of great interest for the international organization and function of the shipping industry, the performance of shipbuilding contracts. Another parameter was posed in this second thematic session by the presentation of the Professor in the University of Bologna Stefano Zunarelli, who developed the problems and perspectives of mandatory marine insurance. The Judge – President of the Court of Appeal of Piraeus Kyriakos Oikonomou concluded this thematic issue by developing the protection of shipping business suppliers in a period of financial instability, passing on the torch to the speakers of the next thematic unit. During the first session of the second day under the direction of the chairman Spyridon Vrellis, who is Professor Emeritus in the Law School of Athens and Director of the Hellenic Institute of International and Foreign Law, first to talk was the Professor and Honoraris Dean at the University of Nancy, director of the Institute “François Gény” of the University of Lorraine, Olivier Cachard who developed the performance of the charterparty contract and the change of the financial conditions. Next speaker was Ignacio Arroyo, Professor at the University of Barcelona and President of the Spanish Maritime Law Association, who developed the protection of the weak party in relevance to the jurisdiction clause in Maritime Law. Then, the Professor in the University of Swansea and Director of the Maritime Law Institute Baris Soyer developed the payment of damages for breach of charterparties and the Attorney-at-law, Dr.iur., Manolis Konstantinidis developed more especially the case of underperformance and/or overconsumption claims for diesel oil during the performance of the charterparty in times of economic distress. The Q.C., Arbitrator & Mediator, Stephen Ruttle developed the issue of Tackling breaches of contract in Shipping, by attributing first priority to Mediation. In the next session, under the direction of chairman Grigoris Timagenis, the turn was for the rest of the speakers to examine issues in the same topic. The Professor in the Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law and President of the Norwegian Association of Maritime Law Erik Rosaeg developed the maritime cross border insolvencies and the limitation Funds and the Attorney-at-law (USA) William Bennett, contributed his analysis on the issue of the enforcement of maritime liens in United States bankruptcy cases. Next was the Attorney-at-law and Dr.iur. Georgios Theocharidis who analysed the relationship between forum shopping and flag in satisfaction of security rights on a ship while the President of the London Shipping Centre and Arbitrator Aleka Mandaraka-Sheppard developed the conditions to proceed to piercing the corporate veil of maritime companies. The last session, during the final day of the Conference, under the direction of chairman Giorgio Berlingieri, Attorney-at-law, President of the Italian Association of Maritime Law, Vice-President of CMI, started with the presentation of Chryssa Tsouka, Associate Professor in Athens School of Law, on the impact of the economic crisis on the application of conflict-of-laws rule in maritime disputes. Dimitrios Tsikirikas, Associate Professor in Athens School of Law, presented procedural and international private law issues on the recognition of foreign enforcement proceedings on vessels. In the same context of the financial crisis, Michael Baker-Harber, Arbitrator, developed the issue of arbitrating in difficult market times. Final speaker of the last session was the Professor of Athens School of Law Georgios Orfanidis who pointed out the weaknesses in the Greek statutory regime relating to arrest and judicial sale of vessels.
Upon completion of the interventions and the discussion that followed the presentations, the Supreme Court Judge and President of the Association for Judicial Studies Ioannis Chamilothoris, who honoured the Conference with his presence, summed up with the conclusions of the 8th International Conference on Maritime Law.
The publication of the reports in a special edition, as it is by tradition done for every Conference, was completed in 2015.
The presentation of the Maritime Conference was directed by the President of the Organizing Committed of the Maritime Conference L. I. Athanassiou.
Piraeus Bar Association / Board of Directors:
Stylianos Manoussakis President, Emmanouil Kotsonis Vice-President, Evangelos Tsouroulis Vice-President, Georgios Stamatogiannis Secretary General, Evangelos Anagnostou Member- Treasurer.
Members: Georgios Athanassopoulos, Maria Galanopoulou, Kimon Gioulistanis, Konstantina Gourgarea, Panagiotis Degleris, Argyrios Dimovic, Georgios Karamizaris, Danai Karkoulia, Ilias Klappas, Nikolaos Liapakis, Konstantinos Manalis, Dimitrios Pollalis, Dimitrios Stathakopoulos, Maria Floropoulou-Makri.
Members of the Organizing Committee:
Lia I. Athanassiou President, Athanassios Alykatoras, Michalis Antapassis, Vasilis Vernikos, Nikos Gerasimou, Georgios Theocharidis, Georgios Iatridis-Ramantanis, Paris Karamitsios, Nikos Kountouris, Antonis Koutsofios, Manolis Konstantinidis, Nikos Konstantinidis, Georgios Oikonomou, Giannis V. Sarantitis, Vassilis P. Sioufas, Georgios Skorinis, Paschalia Timageni, Polychronis Tsiridis, Dimitris Christodoulou.
The 9th International Conference that was held in Piraeus on 13-15 October 2016 dealt with Maritime Safety and Security: Legal implications to ships, cargo and the human element, a synthetic and modern subject of great theoretical and practical interest, not only for the shipping community of Greek interests but also for international community. The subject was divided into three main sections: The first section was dedicated to the institutional framework for safety in navigation, seaworthiness and safety regarding the operation of the ship during her existence. Several issues are integrated here, such as liability of classification societies, ports of refuge, the role of port services, the current EU and international legislation for the recycling, the adequacy of EU and international safety rules. The second one focused on issues regarding the consequences of defects in cargo safety and during the execution of charter-parties and contracts of carriage by sea, in general.
The relevant charter-party clauses, as well as the third parties claims for damages related to the execution of contracts of carriage by sea, shall be approached on theoretical and case-law basis. The third section was dedicated to the human element at sea and dealt with the protection of passengers, crew and any other person on board. Issues such as the ship owner’s liability for actions of armed guards, migration from the aspect of the rules of maritime law, the liability of passengers’ carrier after the recent deadly accidents, were examined in depth. Finally, 9th International Conference of Maritime Law program included for the first time a round table, where academics, legal practitioners and market representatives discussed with the participants certain issues in relation with the subject of the Conference. More precisely, the legal issues examined at the round table were those arising out of the phenomenon of piracy from the aspect of international law, maritime insurance law and maritime law (ship owner’s and carrier’s liability, general average etc.).
Following the opening ceremony of the Conference from the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Prokopios Pavlopoulos, the first session, chaired by Leonidas Dimitriadis-Eugenides, President of the Eugenides Foundation, started with Andrew Cutler, Chief Executive Officer of Tindall Riley (Britannia) Limited, Managers of Britannia Club, who developed the mandatory rules imposed on shipping and their insurance cost. Next speaker was John Witte, President International Salvage Union (ISU), presenting the issue of salvage, safety and the regulatory environment and protection for the salvor, while Christine Berg, Head of Unit, Maritime Safety, European Commission (Directorate General for Mobility and Transport) presented the future challenges for the European Maritime Safety Regime. The next session, chaired by Marc Huybrechts, em. Professor, University of Leuven, started with the presentation of Aldo Chircop, Professor of Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, Nova-Scotia, Canada, with regard to State responsibility and Places of Refuge for Ships and the emerging issues and prospects, while Thomas Schoenbaum, Professor of Law in George Washington University- School of Law presented the new regime for US port security and the legal implications for ships calling at US ports. The session ended with Nikolaos Konstantinidis, Dr.iur., Attorney-at-law, Legal Department of Piraeus Port Authority, presentation about the port services regulation as a tool of enhancing safety at sea. The afternoon session, with Giorgio Berlingieri, Attorney-at-law, President of Italian Association of Maritime Law and Vice-President of the CMI as Chairman, started with Andrew Tettenborn, Professor of Law School of University of Swansea, who presented the obligations and the liability of the bank/financier for unsafe vessel, while Professor of Commercial Law of University of Nottingham, Howard Bennett talked about the Insurance Act 2015 Reforms to Warranties. The session ended with the presentation of Henning Jessen, Professor of University of Hamburg – Institute for the Law of the Sea & Maritime Law, about the safe and environmentally sound ship recycling, focusing on the obligations and liabilities under public international and EU Law. The last session of the first day of the Conference was held under the chairmanship of Dimitrios Kranis, Justice of the Supreme Court (Areios Pagos) and General Director of National School of Judges. First to talk was Klaus Ramming, Dr.iur., Co-Chairman in German Maritime Association, University of Hamburg, who concentrated in a comparative examination of Salvage vs. Wreck Removal and talked about the Qualification of the Contractor’s Operations and some other Issues. Next speaker was Kyriakos Oikonomou, Judge-President in Piraeus Court of Appeal, who developed the liability and compensation for damages from ship-collisions, while Georgios Orfanidis, Professor of Law School in University of Athens talked about the claims arising from the wrecking and the auction of the ship.
During the first session of the second day and under the direction of the chairman Bϋlent Sözer, who is Professor at Yeditepe University, first to talk was Dimitrios Christodoulou, Ass. Professor of Law School, University of Athens who developed the safe port clauses in charterparties. Then Frank Smeele, Professor at Erasmus School of Law talked about the shipowner’s responsibility for stowage in case of FIOs clauses. Next speaker was James Hu, Professor of Shanghai Maritime University, presenting the transport of dangerous goods and shipper’s liability under Chinese Law and Rotterdam Rules. The next session, chaired by Pavlos Avrameas, Attorney-at-law, started with the presentation of Ralph De Wit, Professor of University of Brussels, University of Antwerp & Antwerp Maritime Academy, about the liability for damages in the context of the combined transport of goods. Then, the Attorneys-at-law Nikolaos Gerasimou and Antonios Koutsofios jointly presented the issues and prospects of liability for damages arising from the carriage of goods and vehicles by sea without bill of lading. The session ended with the presentation of Polychronis Tsiridis, Dr.iur, Attorney-at-law, concerning the penal jurisdiction in matters of safety rules infringements, with specific reference to the Norman Atlantic case. In the afternoon session, under the direction of chairman Evanghelos Perakis, em. Professor of Law School in University of Athens and President of the Association of Greek Commercialists, Kensuke Kobayashi, Legal Counsel of IOPC Funds, talked about the recent developments within the International Oil Pollution Compensation Regime, while Professor of Law School, University of Athens, Lia Athanassiou, analysed the charterer’s liability for pollution damages. The session ended with the presentation of Olivier Cachard, Professor of Faculty of Law of Nancy about the classification society and CLC Convention in light of law as in force after the judgment concerning the case of the Erika (“Les sociétés de classification et la Convention CLC: le droit positif après l’arrêt Erika”). In the last session academics, legal practitioners and market representatives discussed in the round table about issues related to the subject of the Conference, under the chairmanship of Grigorios Timagenis, Dr. iur., Attorney-at-law and President of the Hellenic Association of Maritime Law. First to talk was Rosalie Balkin, former Director Legal Affairs – Assistant Secretary-General IMO, presenting the IMO perspective concerning the phenomenon of piracy, while Grant Hunter, Chief Officer-Legal & Contractual Affairs BIMCO, talked about the impact of piracy on charter parties and transport contracts. Next was Professor of Maritime Law in the University of Southampton, Hilton Staniland who developed the issue of shipowner’s liability, while Alexandra Couvadelli, Senior Claims Director UK P&I Club, presented the insurance law issues that may arise through piracy. The session ended with Maria’s Gavouneli, Ass. Professor, Law School – University of Athens, taking about the consequences of piracy from a legal perspective.
The first morning session of the final day, chaired by Georgios Michalopoulos, Professor of Law School, University of Athens, began with Philippe Delebecque, Professor of Université de Paris-I-Panthéon-Sorbonne talking about the damages in passenger transportation and round trips by sea (“L’indemnisation dans le cadre du transport des passagers et de croisières”). Next speaker was Cornelia Delouka Igglesi, Professor of University of Piraeus presenting the issue of the protection of passengers at sea as consumers, while the Legal Adviser of ILO, Georges Politakis, talked about MLC and its implementation & challenges. In the final session of the Conference, chaired by Evanghelos Tsouroulis, Attorney-at-law, former President of the CCBE, Frederick Kenney, Director, Legal and External Affairs IMO talked about the IMO regulatory framework vis-a-vis the migration by sea, while the session ended with the presentation of Francesco Munari, Professor of University of Genoa, concerning the issue of salvage and rescue of human lives and migrants.
Upon completion of the interventions and the discussion that followed the presentations, the Conference ended with the prize awarding of the winners of the organized contest in respect of the Conference under the title “Young Maritime Prize – Piraeus 2016”.
The publication of the reports in a special edition, as it is by tradition done for every Conference, was completed in 2017. The presentation of the Maritime Conference was directed by the President of the Organizing Committee of the Maritime Conference L. I. Athanassiou.
Piraeus Bar Association / Board of Directors:
George Stamatogiannis, President, Maria Floropoulou-Makri, Vice President ,Constantina Gourgarea, Vice President, Panagiotis Petropoulos, Secretary General, Ioannis Vrellos, Member-Treasurer, Members: George Athanassopoulos, Evangelos Anagnostou, Ioannis Voutas, Lazaros Giatrakos, Kimon Gioulistanis, Argirios Demovits, George Karamizaris, Ioannis Kardaras, Elias Klappas, Nikolaos Liapakis, Nikolaos Biliris, Panagiota Bourletidou, Maria Stamatogianni, Christos Tsallos.
Members of the Organizing Committee:
Lia I. Athanassiou President, Michael A. Antapassis, Vassilis Vernicos, Nikolaos Gerassimou, George Theocharidis, George Iatridis-Ramantanis, Paris Karamitsios, Nikolaos Kountouris, Antonios Koutsofios, Manolis Konstantinidis, Nikolaos Konstantinidis, George Oikonomou, Ioannis V. Sarantitis, Vassilios P. Sioufas, George Skorinis, Paschalia Timageni, Polychronis Tsiridis, Dimitrios Christodoulou.
The 10th International Conference of Maritime Law that was held in Piraeus on 26-28 May 2022 dealt with the subject “Protecting maritime operators in a changing regulatory and technological environment”.
The subject allowed the study of issues with particular theoretical and practical significance, and was divided into five sections: the first focused on the new approach moving from “the protection of the maritime creditors” (interestingly, that was the subject of the very first Conference of 1992) to the protection of maritime entrepreneurship (i.e. economic analysis of modern shipowning, new forms of funding, commercial war and trade restrictions); the second dealt with the organizational changes in the shipping industry; the third one focused on the new risks faced by shipping operators, such as trade sanctions against States and affecting shipping, IMO requirements intended to reduce Sulphur oxides emissions from ships, liabilities relating to the bunkers’ delivery etc.. The fourth section was dedicated to the legal issues arising from the interaction between shipping and environmental regulations on one side, and shipping and technology on the other side: questions relating – inter alia – to the protection of personal data, the cyber risks and liabilities, the regime of autonomous vessels, climate change impacts (CV & C), were discussed in this context. Finally, the last section “revisited” the traditional legal tools of protection (limitation of liability and constitution of funds, arrest of ships etc.), based on a comparative approach of modern case law in several maritime countries.
Following the opening ceremony of the Conference by the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Mr. Ioannis Plakiotakis, and the welcome address by the President of the Piraeus Bar Association, Mr. Ilias I. Klappas, the first session commenced under the chairmanship of Mr. Leonidas Dimitriadis-Eugenides, President of the Eugenides Foundation. The session began with Mr. Lars Robert Pedersen, Deputy Secretary General of BIMCO, who addressed the regulatory and commercial challenges facing the shipping industry in 2022 and proposed appropriate solutions. He was followed by Mr. Tomas Heidar, Vice-President (now President) of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), who presented the private claims of flag states concerning the operation of ships under UNCLOS, with reference to relevant ITLOS case law. Subsequently, Lia Athanassiou, Professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and President of the Organizing Committee, analyzed the impact of COVID-19 on ship operations from a legal perspective. A discussion followed before the coffee break.
The second session, chaired by Lorenzo Schiano di Pepe, Professor at the University of Genoa, began with George Theocharidis, Professor at the World Maritime University, who examined the issue of fraudulent registration and its implications for shipping. Dr. Vincent Power, Chair of the European Maritime Law Organization, provided a practical guide on lawful cooperation within the shipping industry under EU Competition Law. Associate Professor Victoria Athanasopoulou, Associate Professor at the University of the Aegean discussed the applicable law for foreign shipping companies operating in Greece.
The third session, chaired by Mr. Yosef Tsalaganidis, Emeritus President of the Supreme Court (Areios Pagos), included Professor George Leloudas of Swansea University, who discussed “Autonomous ships: Regulatory challenges and contractual revisions.” Associate Professor Frank Stevens of Erasmus School of Law presented legal issues arising from the use of smart contracts in shipping operations. Mr. Michael Nolan Q.C. concluded the session with a presentation on the impact of technology on sea carriers’ obligations.
The conference continued with the fourth session, chaired by Ms. Angeliki Frangou, Chairperson & CEO of Navios Maritime Holdings S.A.. Mr. Frederick Kenney, Director of Legal and External Affairs at the IMO, explored the theme “Transparency at IMO and in shipping: rule changes and recent developments.” Professor Baris Soyer of Swansea University and Director of the Institute of Shipping and Trade Law discussed cyber risks, along with relevant liability and insurance law issues. The session concluded with Manolis Konstantinidis, Dr. Jur. And Attorney-at-law, who examined the impact of sanctions on charterparties.
On the second day, the first session was chaired by Mr. Fokion Karavias, CEO of Eurobank S.A.. It began with Professor Theodore Syriopoulos, Chair of Ports Management and Shipping at NKUA and Visiting Professor at the Athens Law School LL.M. in Maritime Law, who analyzed alternative financing instruments in the shipping business from an economic standpoint. Stephen Girvin, Professor at the National University of Singapore and Director of the Centre for Maritime Law then addressed the legal implications of modern shipping finance. Mr. George Iatridis-Ramantanis, Attorney-at-law, examined the intersection of finance and operations in demise charters.
The following session, chaired by Professor Stefano Zunarelli, Professor at the University of Bologna, opened with Ms. Regina Asariotis, Chief of the Policy & Legislation Section, Division on Technology & Logistics, UNCTAD, who discussed the impact of climate change on ports and related considerations for commercial maritime law. Professor Ellen Eftestol of the University of Helsinki and adjunct Professor at the University of Oslo explored whether the EU and IMO are following diverging paths in the context of green shipping. Ioannis Androulakis, Associate Professor at Athens Law School, concluded the session with a presentation on modern risks and criminal liability in shipping business.
In the afternoon session, chaired by Grigoris Timagenis, Dr. Jur. and Attorney-at-law, Professor Gaël Piette of the University of Bordeaux discussed the pursuit of uniformity in documents triggering the application of the Hague–Visby Rules. Mr. Charles Debattista, Counsel/Arbitrator and former Professor at the University of Southampton, examined whether carriers can still limit their liability, and reviewed the judicial constraints on limitation and strategies to address them. Dr. Loukas Zygouros, Attorney-at-law, concluded the session by revisiting the obligation of seaworthiness in light of new regulatory interventions in shipping.
The eighth session of the Conference, chaired by George Gerapetritis, Professor at Athens Law School (currently on leave) and Minister for Cabinet (now Minister for Foreign Affairs), opened with Mr. Gaute Sivertsen, Director of the IOPC Funds, who presented the future challenges to international maritime liability regimes. Dr. Nikos Konstantinidis, Attorney-at-law at the Legal Department of the Piraeus Port Authority, then discussed the search for an appropriate regulatory framework for compensating pollution damage caused by drilling platforms, with attention to the risk of mass claims. Mr. Christopher Davis, President of the Comité Maritime International (CMI) and Attorney-at-law, examined the protection of foreign shipping companies under U.S. insolvency proceedings (Chapters 11 and 15).
On the third day, the first session was chaired by Sir Bernard Rix, former Lord Justice of Appeal and Visiting Lecturer at Queen Mary University. Dieter Schwampe, Professor at the University of Hamburg, Attorney-at-law and Vice President of CMI, analyzed the breaking of shipowners’ rights to global limitation and revisited the Unified Interpretations of December 2021. Mr. Vassilis Vernicos, LL.M., Attorney-at-law, presented on the issues arising from the distribution of limitation funds, followed by Professor Philippe Delebecque of Université Paris I – Panthéon Sorbonne, who addressed the extraterritorial effects of the constitution of the limitation fund.
The final session of the Conference, under the chairmanship of Mr. Christos Tzannerikos, then Vice President of the Supreme Court (Areios Pagos), featured Mr. Kyriakos Oikonomou, Former Judge of the Supreme Court, who discussed the “inverse” piercing of the corporate veil in relation to maritime claims. Nikolaos Katiforis, Associate Professor at Athens Law School and Attorney-at-law addressed the assessment of risk justifying ship arrest under the 1952 Arrest Convention. The Conference concluded with Professor Dimitrios Tsikrikas of Athens Law School and Attorney-at-law, who analyzed the enforceability of arbitration clauses against third parties in maritime transactions.
The publication of the reports in a special edition, following the tradition of the Conference, was completed in 2023. The organization and direction of the Conference were overseen by the President of the Organizing Committee, Professor Lia Athanassiou.
Piraeus Bar Association / Board of Directors:
Elias I. Klappas, President
Perivolaris Polychronis, Vice President
Voutas Ioannis, Vice President
Bourletidou Panagiota, General Secretary
Fazakis Stylianos, Consultant-Treasurer
Anagnostou Evangelos, Consultant
Gioulistanis Kimon, Consultant
Zorzou Ismini, Consultant
Iliadis P. Christos, Consultant
Karatzas Georgios, Consultant
Karydas Kyriakos, Consultant
Biliris Nikolaos, Consultant
Petalas Vassilios, Consultant
Plessas Dionysios, Counsellor
Pollalis Ilias, Consultant
Sapountzakis Panagiotis, Consultant
Stamatogianni Maria, Consultant
Stamelaki Athena, Consultant
Tzitziakis Ilias, Consultant
Members of the Organizing Committee:
Lia I. Athanassiou, President, Ilias I. Klappas, Victoria Athanassopoulou, Tryfon Alykatoras, Michael A. Antapassis, Vassilis Vernicos, Nikolaos Gerassimou, George Theocharidis, George Iatridis, Paris Karamitsios, Nikolaos Kountouris, †Antonis Koutsofios, Manolis Konstantinidis, Nikolaos Konstantinidis, George Oikonomou, Giannis Liberopoulos, Ioannis V. Sarantitis, Vassilios P. Sioufas, George Scorinis, Paschalia Timageni, Polychronis Tsiridis, Dimitrios Christodoulou, Piraeus Bar Association
