3rd Maritime Security Conference

3rd International Conference on Maritime Security

Maritime Security in an Era of Geopolitical, Geoeconomic and Technological Disruption

Under the auspices of H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Constantine An. Tassoulas

The 3rd International Conference on Maritime Security brings together leading policymakers, senior military officials, industry executives, and academic experts to address the most pressing challenges facing the global maritime domain.

In an era defined by great power competition, the weaponisation of trade routes, rapid technological transformation, and the normalisation of hybrid threats, maritime security has moved to the centre of the geopolitical agenda. This one-day conference examines these dynamics through five thematic panels, two ministerial keynote addresses, and high-level networking opportunities.

The conference is organised by The Council for International Relations, The International Propeller Club – Port of Piraeus, the Society for Geopolitics (S4GEO), and the Foreign Affairs Institute, in cooperation with the University of Piraeus – School of Maritime and Industrial Studies and the Institute of International Relations (IDIS).

Nikos Dendias, Minister of National Defence

Vassilis Kikilias, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy

Registration & Welcome Coffee

Opening Remarks

•         Athanasios Platias, President, Council for International Relations & University of Piraeus

•         Costas Frangoulis, President, Propeller Club

•         Vice Admiral Dimitrios E. Kataras, Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff (invited)

•         Angelos Pantouvakis, Dean, School of Maritime and Industrial Studies, University of Piraeus

•         Leonidas Dimitriadis Eugenides, President, Eugenides Foundation

•         Michael Hochberg, President, Society for Geopolitics

•         Georgios Alexandratos, President, Hellenic Chamber of Shipping (invited)

Keynote Address: Nikos Dendias, Minister of National Defence

Panel I: Chokepoints and Power Politics: The Return of Maritime Geopolitics

Maritime space is once again becoming a central arena of great power competition, where control over chokepoints, sea lanes and strategic regions increasingly shapes the balance of power.

•         Athanasios Platias, University of Piraeus & Council for International Relations

•         Len Hochberg, Mackinder Forum

•         Rodger Baker, Society for Geopolitics

•         Scott Smitson, Denison University

Moderator: Konstantinos Arvanitopoulos, Panteion University & Council for International Relations

Panel II: The Weaponisation of Shipping: Sanctions, Energy and Economic Warfare at Sea

Shipping is no longer a neutral carrier of trade but a strategic instrument through which states project power, enforce sanctions and reshape energy and supply chain flows.

•         Punit Oza, International Brokers Association

•         Dominick Donald, Director, Autolycus Advisory

•         Simon Ward, URSA Shipbrokers

Moderator: Sofia Galani, Panteion University & Institute of International Relations

Panel III: AI, Nuclear Propulsion, Surveillance and Cyber Risk: The Technological Transformation of Shipping

Technological innovation is simultaneously enhancing maritime capabilities and creating new vulnerabilities, transforming both the efficiency and the risk profile of global shipping.

•         Michael Hochberg, Society for Geopolitics

•         Spyros Hidaris, American Bureau of Shipping

•         Reed Simmons, Head of Strategy Development, Metrea

•         Katerina Tasiopoulou, CEO, ThreatScenes

Panel IV: Operating in a Permanent Grey Zone: Managing Maritime Risk in an Unstable World

The normalisation of hybrid threats and geopolitical instability requires shipowners and operators to manage risk not as an exception, but as a permanent condition of maritime activity.

•         Nicholas Georgopoulos, Diaplous Group

•         John Walker, EOS Risk Group

•         Admiral (ret.) Ioannis Pavlopoulos

Moderator: Admiral (ret.) Stelios Fenekos

Keynote Address: Vassilis Kikilias, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy (invited)

Panel V: Greek Shipping in a Fragmented World: Strategy, Risk and Opportunity

Greek shipping must navigate a more fragmented and politicised global environment, balancing exposure to geopolitical risk with its enduring role at the core of global trade.

•         Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, CEO, Hellenic Shipyards

•         Greek Maritime Industry Representative (tbc)

•         Greek Maritime Industry Representative (tbc)

•         Greek Maritime Industry Representative (tbc)

Closing Remarks

Konstantina Botsiou, University of Piraeus & Director, Council for International Relations

Loukas Katsonis, President, Institute for Foreign Affairs

The Council for International Relations  |  The International Propeller Club – Port of Piraeus  |  Society for Geopolitics (S4GEO)  |  Foreign Affairs Institute

University of Piraeus – School of Maritime and Industrial Studies  |  Institute of International Relations (IDIS)

EOS Risk Group  |  Metrea  |   Maria Tsakos Foundation

To Vima  |  Ta Nea  |  Oikonomikos Tachydromos  |  tovima.com  |  Policy Journal  |  Seeders

Venue: Eugenides Foundation, 387 Syngrou Avenue, Paleo Faliro, Athens, Greece

Date: Monday, 28 April 2026

Time: 10:00 – 18:00 (Registration & Welcome Coffee from 09:30)

Language: English

Admission: By registration only. Please register using the form on this page.