More than 200 researchers from 90 universities and organisations in 25 countries, 126 research papers, and a substantive dialogue between academia and the shipping industry
The 3rd European Conference on Shipping, Intermodalism & Ports (ECONSHIP 2026) has concluded in Chios after three days of proceedings, from 23 to 25 September 2026. The Conference was organised by the Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport of the University of the Aegean and the Department of Maritime Studies of the University of Piraeus, as a regional conference of the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME) and as part of the activities marking the European Maritime Days.
Held for the third time since its inaugural edition in 2011, ECONSHIP 2026 featured 126 research papers presented across 30 parallel plenaries. More than 200 authors and researchers took part, representing 90 universities, research centres, and organisations in 25 countries across Europe, Asia, Australia, North and Latin America, and Africa. Five special plenary sessions focused on dialogue between academia and the shipping industry, the joint identification of priorities and approaches to addressing key challenges, and the present and future of research and education.
The opening ceremony took place on Tuesday 22 September in the “Yiannis Karalis” Auditorium at the University of the Aegean. Professor Maria Lekakou delivered opening remarks on behalf of the Organising Committee. Addresses were also given by Ioannis Malafis, Mayor of Chios; Pantelis A. Bournias, Regional Vice Governor of the North Aegean Region; Professor Niki Glaveli, Vice-Rector of the University of the Aegean; Professor Seraphim Kapros, Head of the Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport; and Professor Ioannis Theotokas, Head of the Department of Maritime Studies at the University of Piraeus. Delegates and representatives of local government and of the Chios authorities also attended the ceremony.
Professor Pierre Cariou, 2nd Vice-President of IAME, delivered the opening keynote address. A welcome reception followed, supported by the “Maria Tsakos” Public Benefit Foundation – International Centre for Maritime Research and Tradition.
A discussion on the priorities and the challenges of European maritime policy
A highlight of the Conference was the participation of the Deputy Minister of Shipping of the Republic of Cyprus, Marina Hadjimanolis, in the plenary session titled “The European Debate” on Friday, 25 September. Moderated by Associate Professor Ilias Bissias, the discussion also featured Professor Thanos Pallis, holder of the Jean Monnet Chair in European Port Policy. Costas Kadis, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, contributed through a recorded video message.
Ms Hadjimanolis discussed the priorities and achievements of Cyprus’s Presidency of the Council of the EU, efforts to strengthen the Cyprus Ship Registry and promote Cyprus as an international shipping centre, improving maritime connectivity with Europe, and the need to attract young people to seafaring careers. During the Conference, she announced two scholarships for Cypriot women wishing to study on the University of the Aegean’s Shipping programme.
Professor Thanos Pallis discussed the need for European policies on shipping and ports, the practical considerations involved in their implementation, and the challenges of aligning interests and developing common policies among Member States. He stressed that achieving meaningful results and strengthening the competitiveness of European shipping require a shared approach and a long-term plan involving all stakeholders.
When industry poses the questions and research responds
Another notable plenary took place on Wednesday, 23 September. Titled “Episteme in the Crosscurrents: Perspectives from Maritime Executives at the Helm”, it was moderated by Professor Maria Lekakou and Associate Professor Helen Iakovaki.
During the plenary, senior shipping executives presented five challenges facing the industry to which international research could contribute. Academic participants ranked the challenges in real time, highlighting where research priorities aligned with those of the industry, and proposed ways in which research could help address them. A total of 144 contributions were collected, analysed, and presented to the audience on the same day. The plenary featured Captain Stylianos Dimouleas (Almi Tankers S.A.), Kostas Petrakis (Chartworld Shipping Corporation), Anastasios Zoupas (EY Greece), and Vasileios G. Petousis (Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp.).
The special plenary “METAVASEA: Promoting a People-centred Transition in East Mediterranean” followed a similar approach. Organised by HELMEPA and moderated by Constantinos Triantafyllou, it brought the discussion on the green and digital transition to the people tasked with putting it into practice. Participants were Antri Theodorou (CMMI), Philip Nielsen (ORIANI), Emmanouil Nikolaidis (Premium Consulting), Pavlina Proteou (BeyondCSR), Ioannis Salamouris (Knowl Social Enterprise), and George Tsavliris (CYMEPA).
The plenary “An IAME discussion: The Future of Maritime Studies”, moderated by Professor George Vaggelas, brought together IAME Vice-President Pierre Cariou, former IAME President Elvira Haezendonck, Professor Helen Iakovaki, and Professor Ioannis Theotokas. They discussed the present and future of maritime studies and the key priorities for the field. Artificial intelligence and the ways in which it is expected to transform research and teaching dominated the discussion.
The ECONSHIP 2026 Awards
The presentation of the awards for the best research papers recognised the innovation and contribution to academic research of four papers presented during the Conference.
The ECONSHIP 2026 Best Paper Award was shared by two papers: “Back to basics: Throughput, vessel capacity deployment and the changing geography of port systems”, by David Guerrero, Ronan Kerbiriou, and Antoine Frémont (France), and “Investing in maritime training to advance green shipping under the IGF code”, by Despoina Kiltidou and Mary Matsouka (Greece).
The ECONSHIP 2026 Emerging Scholar Award went to “Dredging governance and port competitiveness: structural asymmetry in multi-actor systems in Colombia”, by Daniela Del Gallego and Johann Mauricio Arenas Quimbayo (Colombia).
The PortEconomics Award for the best research on ports went to “Economic regulation of port authority pricing in South Africa: a constructive critique of the revenue requirement model”, by Mihalis Chasomeris (South Africa).
A special honour for a distinguished academic
At the same ceremony, the Conference honoured Professor Helen Thanopoulou, who retired earlier this year, for her valuable contribution to maritime scholarship and research. Her academic career has spanned many roles, from Cardiff University to the University of the Aegean, alongside her longstanding membership of IAME and her prominent presence within the academic community. Her connection with the University of the Aegean is set to continue for many years to come, as Professor Seraphim Kapros, Head of the Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport, announced that she will soon be conferred the title of Professor Emerita of the University of the Aegean.
Beyond the conference rooms
ECONSHIP had an extensive academic and social programme, with events and receptions that brought delegates together and offered them the opportunity to experience Chios.
ECONSHIP 2026 was also accompanied by the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Port Performance Research Network and a training seminar from the PACT Cost Action on the energy transition in port cities.
The Conference was held with the support of Chartworld Shipping Corporation, Latsco Marine Management Inc., and the “Maria Tsakos” Public Benefit Foundation as gold sponsors. It also received support from the Municipality of Chios, the Chios Mastiha Growers Association, Attica Group, Almi Tankers S.A., Carras Hellas S.A., Celestyal, Dorian LPG, EY, Hellenic Hull Management Ltd., Navios Maritime Holdings Inc., and Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp.
Undergraduate students from the Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport also made a substantial contribution to the success of ECONSHIP 2026. As volunteers, they supported the practical organisation and running of the Conference, offering delegates a warm introduction to the hospitality of Chios and leaving a lasting positive impression.
Conference photographs are available here.
Recordings of the discussions and plenary sessions are available here.
