Isalos.net and the George & Marie Vergottis Foundation: An event dedicated to the people, the history and the future of Kefalonian shipping

Wednesday, 21 October 2026

On Saturday, 17 October 2026, the educational event entitled “Kefalonia, a bridge of shipping: From the tradition of yesterday to the new opportunities of tomorrow” took place at the Vergottis Cultural Centre in Kourkoumelata, Kefalonia. The event was co-organised by Isalos.net and the George & Marie Vergottis Foundation, on the occasion of the Foundation’s 50 years of operation and contribution.

Continuing its long-standing activity in historic seafaring places of Hellenism, Isalos.net made it a priority to organise an event in Kefalonia, a place with a great maritime tradition and a significant contribution to the development of Greek shipping.

The event attracted the interest of the public, with the hall filling up and the participation of students of the Merchant Marine Academy of the Ionian Islands being particularly notable, confirming the younger generation’s interest in shipping, its history and the career prospects it offers. Among others, the event was attended by the Deputy Regional Governor for Entrepreneurship and Greeks Abroad of the Region of the Ionian Islands, Ms Eleni Papanastasatou; the Commandant of the Merchant Marine Academy of the Ionian Islands, Hellenic Coast Guard Captain Anastasios Schoinas; the Deputy Commandant of the Merchant Marine Academy of the Ionian Islands, Hellenic Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Spyridon Stamatelatos; the Director of the Merchant Marine Academy of the Ionian Islands, Mr Dionysios Rassias; as well as representatives of the Municipality, the local authorities and the Kefalonia Seafarers’ Association.

The event began with an open discussion entitled “Blue Chairs: Shipping in dialogue with society”. The dialogue took place between the main (co-)speaker, the President of the Vergottis Foundation, Mr Gerasimos Vergottis, and the audience, while the discussion was moderated by Mr Ilias G. Bissias, Assistant Professor at the Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport of the University of the Aegean and Publishing Advisor of Naftika Chronika. The discussion focused on the Kefalonian shipping paradigm, family entrepreneurship and the many ways shipping contributes to cultural, educational and social life in Greece, with an emphasis on the role of the Kefalonian shipping community.

Students of the Merchant Marine Academy of the Ionian Islands also took part in the open discussion, having the opportunity to put questions to the President of the George & Marie Vergottis Foundation. Their interest focused, among other things, on the factors that have contributed to the emergence of important figures in international shipping business who hail from Kefalonia, as well as on the footprint of the Foundation’s charitable activities on the island. At the same time, Mr Vergottis was invited to share his views on the skills and qualifications that young people need to cultivate in order to build a successful professional career in today’s working environment.

The event continued with two presentations, which highlighted Kefalonia’s long-standing connection with shipping and maritime education:

“Maritime education in the Ionian: From the Stathatos School to the Merchant Marine Academy of the Ionian Islands – Historical course and current challenges”, by Panagiotis Korakas, Director of Isalos.net.
“Kefalonia’s shipping business through the pages of ‘Naftika Chronika’: People, journeys and legacies”, by Thomas Mitzelos, Historian of the Naftika Chronika Archive.

The first presentation highlighted the historical development of maritime education in the Ionian, with an emphasis on Ithaca and above all on Kefalonia, while also shedding light on the current challenges and the prospects of the sector.

The second, drawing on the archival material of Naftika Chronika, highlighted Kefalonian figures from the world of shipping who have written for the pages of the magazine and who not only shaped the Kefalonian shipping tradition but are also part of today’s shipping business.

The two presentations brought out important aspects of maritime education in the Ionian, as well as of the most important shipping houses that trace their roots to Kefalonia, linking the historical legacy with today’s reality and the prospects for the future.

This event was the first initiative of Isalos.net in Kefalonia since its founding in 2015. However, the warm response and genuine interest of the local community create particularly positive prospects for organising similar events in the future, further strengthening dialogue and ties with the island’s shipping community.