The change of the new year found the deputy minister of maritime affairs and insular policy, Stefanos Gkikas at the port of Piraeus, where, in keeping with the New Year’s custom, together with the chief of the Hellenic Coast Guard, vice admiral Tryfon Kontizas and senior officers, they welcomed the first vessel to enter the port this year, the Blue Star Delos, which symbolically ushered in 2026 at Greece’s largest port.
The deputy minister exchanged New Year wishes with the ship’s captain and crew and attended the traditional cutting of the New Year’s cake aboard the vessel.
He later visited the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (EKSED) where, representing maritime affairs minister Vassilis Kikilias, he communicated with two merchant vessels currently at sea – the Maran Lynx in the Indian Ocean and the Andromeda in the Mediterranean, as well as two Hellenic Coast Guard vessels on active duty.
Addressing the crews of the merchant ships, Gkikas thanked them for “keeping the Greek flag flying at every corner of the globe,” stressing that thanks to Greek seafarers, “Greek shipping is the first in the world, a fact that fills us with pride.”
He also expressed the gratitude of Greek citizens to Coast Guard personnel for the work they perform day and night, guarding the maritime borders and protecting human life at sea.
In his statement, Gkikas said: “Greek shipping – the first in the world – is the pride of our country. Currently, more than 450 Greek-owned ships are sailing across the globe. Our seafarers are the ones who have made our shipping great and powerful. I wholeheartedly wish all our seafarers, as well as the personnel of the Hellenic Coast Guard and the Hellenic Navy, good health and calm seas, and may Saint Nicholas always be at their bow. May the new year be peaceful, creative and productive for our country and for all Greeks.”
Gkikas also attended the cutting of the New Year’s cake of the first port department, Tzelepi, of the central port authority of Piraeus, where, together with the chief of the Hellenic Coast Guard, he exchanged wishes with the serving officers for the new year.
