Panos Kirnidis is the Chief Executive Officer of Palau International Ship Registry which in 2017 was ranked as the ‘world’s fastest growing’ flag by Fairplay magazine review. He was appointed as CEO in 2016 having solid knowledge and expertise in International Ship Registration and Ship Classification business for over fifteen years from Operations, Technical, Regulatory, Marketing and Financial point of view.
His credentials are impressive and his background in marine engineering, operations and marketing for the maritime sector gives him a strong inside knowledge of the shipping industry and the issues affecting it. He also has a clear understanding of the role of a ship registry and how the drive for electronic registry operations will shape the future of shipping over the next decade. His management, maritime and shipping experience is supported by a Master’s Degree Msc in Engineering Business Management from the University of Warwick – UK, a Bachelor’s Degree BEng in Marine Engineering from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne – UK, a BTEC HND in Mechanical and Manufacture Engineering from Newcastle College – UK and a BTEC HND in Naval Architecture from Southampton College – UK.
In the past years Panos Kirnidis has been at the forefront of discussions regarding issues such as Port State Control, environmental and shipping related matters alongside the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) based in London. He is often quoted in the global shipping media and has highlighted a number of issues to the IMO on both the work of registries and the wider shipping environment.
Panos Kirnidis believes the maritime sector will undergo almost a revolution in its operations over the next years with the onset of digitalization on shipping become the focus of attention for those associated with the maritime sector. His stronger belief is in the irresistible drive towards electronic operational support for ship owners and managers. He is championing the drive towards smart technology in the shipping world and believes the transition from paperwork to electronic operations and management is inevitable and welcome.
Among Panos Kirnidis’ core interests are marine engineering, naval architecture, strategic maritime planning, international crew welfare, smart technology and its use in the maritime world, security and anti-piracy issues, risk management in shipping, regulatory issues and safety.
Panos Kirnidis is fluent in Greek and English and can address an audience of both technical and interested parties in issues that directly affect their own maritime operations and those of the wider maritime and shipping sectors. Panos Kirnidis is available to speak at relevant conferences connecting business, maritime and shipping concerns.
Today, Panos is leading the Palau International Ship Registry towards excellence and prosperity and his efforts are the key for the continuous success of the Registry. With his background in ship management, marine engineering and the development of the Palau International Ship Registry, Panos Kirnidis is able to separate out the reality from the pipe-dreams in the world of international shipping.

Mr. Themelaros served at the Hellenic Coast Guard as Director of Seafarers Training, Head of Division in Piraeus Central Port Authorities, Commodore (H.C.G.) Deputy Harbor Master at Piraeus PSC and he retired in 2012 as Vice Admiral Commanding Inspector of Western Greece.

Throughout his career he played a key role to the actual development of the today’s STCW Code, with active contribution for a decade as IMO Competent Person and Greek Delegation in the sessions of Maritime Safety Committee and STCW Subcommittee in International Maritime Organization IMO. He has participated in the pertinent sessions of the E.U. instruments relevant to Maritime Education and Training as well as in the IMO Correspondence Working Group on matters relevant to “minimum mandatory training and certification requirements for persons to be designated as Ship Security Officers”.

Mr. Themelaros is IMO competent person, pursuant to Section A- I / 7 of the STCW Code. He has been the representative of Greece in the meetings of the Committee on Safe Seas (C.O.S.S. / Regulation 99/02/EC)

The contribution and professional background of Mr. Themelaros vital part of the PISR commitment to the highest standards of crew welfare, safety and environmental protection.

Mr Aris Chionis holds BSc(Hons) in Maritime Business and Management and MSc in Maritime Operation from Liverpool John Moores University – United Kingdom, at early’s 00s. Before that, had a yearlong experience in a bulk carrier as a seafarer. Since 2005 he has been serving shipping Industry from various high-rank positions/departments. Due to PISR acknowledged reputation and expertise, in March 2019 Aris  joined the PISR Team and undertook the role of a Business Development Officer, in order to combine his skills and knowledge together with enthusiasm and motivation. He is hardworking, persistent and competitive, able to adapt in a fast moving and challenging environment.

Vicky is an accountant graduated in 2005 from Technological Institute of Chalkis, Greece, administration and economy department.
She started her career as an accountant assistant in accounting – tax office. In 2009 she joined with International Shipping Bureau, a Multi-National company with expertise in ship survey and registration.
She is in charge of the Accounting of the Palau International Ship Registry since October 2016. Vicky has been fully managing the PISR financial data and is operating the department through sophisticated Enterprise resource planning software – SAP.
Vicky prepares all the accounting work for PISR portfolio; oversees financial statements, tax returns and investment and grant-related reports and schedules to support financial reports to the Management.
Mrs. Kafetzi has demonstrated ability to maintain the workflow of the PISR office by insuring that all systems are in place and running appropriately, handling the administrative duties and tasks.

Hristina is extremely motivated and results-driven Sales / Marketing Officer with exceptional organizational skills. She graduated with a Bachelor University Honors degree of Maritime Studies in 2011 and a Master of Shipping, specialized in Chartering Practice in 2013 from the University of Piraeus and the Business College of Athens respectively.
Steering the way, since 2013 Hristina worked in International Shipping Bureau, a Multi-National company with expertise in ship survey and registration, where she has been involved in the big array of Ship Registration activities and later on in 2014 she was promoted as the Marketing and Sales Officer of the Company.
Since October 2016 Mrs. Cheneva is in charge of the Marketing Department and the Quality & ISO Department of the Palau International Ship Registry.
As Marketing and Sales officer, she is focused on, among others, the development of insights and making recommendations on areas for optimization, key marketing analytics, communication with target audiences, direct brand management and growth of the Palau Registry footprint and corporate positioning, PR, Media Relations, conduct of Marketing Campaigns and tradeshow marketing, spreading both brand and content. She has been fully operating and setting sophisticated marketing software – Sales Force CRM for the optimizing the Marketing Activities of PISR.
Regarding the Quality, Hristina handles the overall management of the Quality & ISO Department, maintain the revision of the Quality Manual of the Company as per the ISO standards and develop proper quality procedures.  She is entitled to keep the ISO accreditation of the Registry and to prepare internal audits.  In addition, analysis of non-conformities and application of corrective actions is basic part of her duties in the Quality Department.

Kelly Kresta is a trusted young lawyer qualified as an Attorney at Law in Greece, Piraeus Bar Association. She holds a Master of Laws degree (L.LM) in Maritime Law obtained from the University of Southampton. She is also a Member of The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and she was awarded for gaining the highest mark in Ship Sale & Purchase Module worldwide in 2014. She speaks fluently Greek, English and Spanish. Today, Miss Kresta has joined the PISR Team as an Attorney at Law & Registration Department officer.

Kleopatra is a young professional who joined the PISR team in July 2018. She graduated from the University of Dundee, Scotland, in 2015, where she obtained her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) (Hons) degree in English Law. Furthermore, Kleopatra obtained a Masters of Laws (LL.M.) in Maritime Law from Cardiff University in Wales, UK in 2016. During her time in Cardiff, she completed a Master’s thesis on the changes brought by the Insurance Act 2015 and she was awarded with Distinctions in International Commercial law and Marine Insurance.
Prior to joining PISR, Kleopatra undertook placement schemes with several acclaimed city firms specializing in maritime law, in the course of which she observed high profile shipping matters both in relation to contractual as well as casualty disputes. She also gained valuable experience while working for a leading law office in Piraeus where she primarily dealt with the dry shipping matters involving the Sale and Purchase of vessels. She speaks Greek, English and Italian.
To date, Kleopatra is the Head of HR and Administration Department of PISR. Additionaly, she is the GDPR Compliance Officer of PISR.

Panagiotis Kamitsis obtained his MEng in Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics from the University of Patras with Honors in 2014. He has since worked in the Information Technology sector as a Software Engineer. In July 2018 he undertook the role of Information Systems Officer in the Palau International Ship Registry (PISR) organization

Capt. Nikos Sakellariadis graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy of Aspropyrgos. He did his Master degree in MSC Marine Engineering Management at the Greenwich University. He started his career as deck officer on cruise ships where he obtained valuable knowledge about the ship and the shipping industry. He is working as a lecturer on maritime training at the New York College. Further, Capt. Sakellariadis is assigned the duties of the Seafarer Training Officer at the Human Element Directorate in Palau International Ship Registry (PISR).