Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) recently hosted the 37th Hellenic Marine Technical Committee meeting at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Athens, bringing together maritime leaders and technical experts to discuss critical issues shaping the industry.

The meeting began with a welcome address from George Sarris, Chairman of the Committee and President of Enterprises Shipping & Trading S.A., who emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing the sector's challenges. George Andreadis, Marine Chief Executive for Greece at BV, echoed this sentiment, reaffirming Bureau Veritas’ commitment to supporting the Greek maritime community.

The event featured a series of key presentations. Dr. John Kokarakis, Technical Director for the SEEBA Zone at BV, provided an overview of the latest regulatory updates, while Maria Lambardaki, Project Developer for the SEEBA Zone at BV, shared insights on the FUEL EU framework and a biofuels assessment study, highlighting developments that will shape future compliance strategies. Bill Stamatopoulos, Global Business

Development Director at BV Verifuel, introduced new charter party clauses for fuels and biofuels, aligned with ISO 8217-2024, sparking an engaging Q&A session.

In the afternoon session, safety considerations for alternative fuels were discussed by Vassilios Dimoulas, Technology & Innovation Director for the SEEBA Zone at BV. The agenda also featured the launch of MOVE, an innovative collaborative platform by Bureau Veritas, introduced by George Stefanis, Commercial Manager for the SEEBA Zone. The event concluded with an in-depth discussion of IACS Rec 34 (Rev.2), led by Quentin Derbanne, Scientific Director at BV.

George Andreadis, Marine Chief Executive for Greece at Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, said: “This year’s discussions reflected the evolving challenges and opportunities in the maritime industry, particularly around decarbonization, regulatory compliance, and technological innovation. At Bureau Veritas, we remain committed to being a trusted partner for the Greek maritime community, providing tailored solutions to help the stakeholders navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing landscape. The Technical Committee meeting continues to be a vital platform for collaboration, allowing us to stay aligned with industry needs and drive forward the shared goal of a sustainable and innovative maritime sector.”