Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association - HELMEPA

HELMEPA was founded in 1982 by Greek seafarers and shipowners, who co-signed a Declaration of Voluntary Commitment "To Save the Seas". The Association’s financial operation is sustained by the annual fees of its corporate members, which are 2,520 ocean-going vessels of all types and 376 shipping companies and organizations in Greece and abroad, while its 15,000+ individual members – mostly Greek seafarers and maritime professionals – do not contribute financially. HELMEPA has grown to be a sustainable multi-community network of like-minded stakeholders that fosters joint action, worthwhile collaboration schemes to seek and achieve sustainable solutions for a healthy planet. Its mission is to develop and nurture an environmental consciousness within shipping and the wider society by informing and educating the human element, and all stakeholders, thus supporting the effective implementation of international maritime legislation aiming at pollution prevention and safety at sea. It supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is actively involved in international fora, with proposals, projects and distinctions on marine and coastal protection, safety in the shipping industry and environmental awareness. The award-winning HELMEPA Academy serves as a beacon of lifelong learning, raising marine environmental awareness among hundreds of thousands of children that have participated in youth programs from the age of 5, while empowering over 40,000 seafarers and maritime professionals that have attended training and reskilling initiatives for the industry's green and digital transition. During these 43 years, HELMEPA’s model has inspired the creation of similar non-governmental, non-profit associations (MEPAs) in Australia-AUSMEPA, Cyprus-CYMEPA, North America-NAMEPA, Nigeria-NIMEPA, the Philippines-PHILMEPA Turkey-TURMEPA, Ukraine-UKRMEPA and Uruguay-URUMEPA, who cooperate under the umbrella of the International Marine Environment Protection Association – INTERMEPA. Throughout its history, HELMEPA has amassed extensive knowledge through the coordination of numerous MEDSPA, LIFE and Erasmus+ projects in Greece and the wider Mediterranean region. Current landmark initiatives include the following EU-funded and regional projects that HELMEPA leads/co-leads: METAVASEA People-centred Transition for Maritime decarbonization in the East Mediterranean, She4Sea Promoting gender diversity, and inclusion in maritime professions, EXCEED Green and Digital Excellence in Advanced Manufacturing, eSgEA Nurturing ESG values within the maritime industry, Chios Climate Chance Grassroots initiative empowering Chios residents, as Climate Ambassadors, Nauticinblu Europe Ocean and climate literacy in nautical high schools. As for youth education and public awareness, HELMEPA delivers impactful educational programs and awareness campaigns. The award-winning “HELMEPA Junior” program has engaged over 183,000 children and 12,000 educators in 2,530 schools, while environmental exhibitions have been visited by more than 450,000 children across Greece. Youth engagement activities include ocean literacy bootcamps, sustainability workshops, soft skills training, mentoring, and creative contests. Since 1998, 68 postgraduate students in the fields of shipping, the environment, and education have received scholarships. These initiatives have been recognized internationally, with HELMEPA receiving the UNEP Global 500 Award and an honorary distinction by the European Parliament. As for marine litter expertise and partnerships, HELMEPA is a recognized regional leader in prevention, monitoring, and advocacy. It has coordinated the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) in Greece since 1991 and Let's Clean Up Europe since 2014, organizing over 5,000 cleanups with the participation of more than 400,000 volunteers. It maintains extensive volunteer-based data collection aligned with EU protocols under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. In 2023, HELMEPA launched the Marine Litter Monitoring Program, engaging over 20 organizations in a three-year commitment to seasonal research. It contributes actively to the European Environment Agency’s Marine Litter Watch and related expert meetings, and it participates in international platforms such as the Global Partnership on Marine Litter and the Regional Cooperation Platform for Marine Litter in the Mediterranean. As for maritime training and technical expertise, HELMEPA’s Maritime Training Centre for Pollution Prevention, Safety at Sea and Environmental Awareness is certified by DNV under ISO 9001:2015 and approved by the Cyprus Maritime Administration. Through its Annual Refresher Training Program, 40,000 merchant marine officers and shore-based personnel have attended seminars, webinars, and e-learning activities. In 2024 alone, 3,200 maritime professionals - including more than 1,300 non-Greek seafarers from 25 nationalities - participated in 208 hours of training delivered by 81 expert lecturers. HELMEPA also provides simulator-based training, with over 2,000 marine and naval officers trained at its Full Mission Bridge Simulator. In cooperation with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy and the Eugenides Foundation, HELMEPA recently compiled the 2023 publication on Marine Environmental Protection taught in Greek Merchant Marine Academies. It also delivers masterclasses on environmental leadership, soft skills, and awareness in line with IMO Model Course 1.38. The organization maintains strong working relations with the IMO, supporting its goals for “Safe and Efficient Ships in Clean Seas,” and contributes as Technical Advisor to the Greek Delegation in MEPC and MSC meetings. Ongoing collaborations include partnerships with the US Coast Guard, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, EMSA, REMPEC, INTERTANKO, INTERCARGO, BIMCO, World Maritime University, Rightship, and other major international actors. In 1992, IMO’s Sub-Committee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping formally acknowledged the value of HELMEPA’s training programs. In recent years, HELMEPA Academy received the 2023 Lloyd’s List Training/Education Award and the 2021 Lloyd’s List Sustainability Award, recognizing its role as a trusted knowledge hub for seafarers, maritime professionals, students, and youth at all learning levels.