Greek Energy Forum: Storming the Gulf: Shipping, Energy Security & Global Trade Disruption

The Greek Energy Forum and the Costas Grammenos Centre for Shipping, Trade and Finance at Bayes Business School invite you to an evening panel discussion addressing the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.

Before the recent conflict, around a fifth of global oil and LNG passed through the Strait. Today, traffic remains at a fraction of normal capacity. The primary bypasses for crude such as Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline, face significant logistical challenges, while LNG currently has no alternative route at all. With the flow of critical gases, petrochemicals, and fertilisers also interrupted, war-risk premiums and freight costs have climbed to multi-year highs.

Our keynote speaker and expert panel will examine the immediate and long-term implications for global shipping routes, energy markets, and maritime policy, both now and once the Strait reopens.

Key Discussion Topics:

• Maritime Security: Operational realities, naval escorts and blockades, crew safety, and legal implications for commercial navigation in the Gulf.
• Rerouting & Its Limits: How far Saudi/UAE pipelines and the Red Sea can compensate for the shortfall, and why LNG lacks alternatives.
• Freight, Insurance & Commercial Risk: Managing war-risk premiums, bunker costs, charter rates, and the broader impact on fleets and commodities trading.
• Geopolitics & European Energy Security: Europe's policy response, competition with Asia for replacement cargoes, and long-term energy price dynamics.

Speakers & Moderator

Moderator:

• Professor Michael Tamvakis, Bayes Business School, Professor of Commodity Economics and Finance

Speakers:

Christos Eskioglou,  London Tanker Brokers Panel (LTBP)

Christos Eskioglou works for London Tanker Brokers Panel (LTBP). He is an experienced shipping and financial analyst with a background in tanker freight and financial markets. He holds an MSc in Shipping, Trade & Finance from Bayes Business School (formerly Cass Business School) and a BSc in Finance from the University of Macedonia

Fotios Katsoulas, Director, Tanker Freight & Alternative Fuels

Fotios Katsoulas leads the team of analysts covering Tanker Freight and Alternative Fuels, as a member of the Shipping Analytics & Research team at S&P Global Energy.

Fotios focuses on the oil tanker freight markets, seaborne trade flows of crude oil and clean petroleum products and their impacts on the shipping cycles and investors' decisions, drawing from his experience in commercial shipping and energy sectors.

Fotios holds a Master of Science in shipping, trade, and finance from Bayes Business School (formerly Cass), City St George's, University of London, United Kingdom, an LLB from Queen Mary University of London and a BSc in Business Administration from Athens University of Economics and Business.

Constantine Lycouris, Head of Short-Term Shipping, ORLEN LNG Trading

Constantine Lycouris is an energy and shipping professional specialising in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector. Based in London, he is the Head of Short-Term Shipping @ ORLEN LNG Trading and has experience in the international LNG shipping and trading industry. His professional background includes exposure to global gas markets, LNG shipping and commercial operations, supported by academic training in shipping, trade and finance and studies at the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers. Constantine brings an international perspective to the evolving LNG market, with a professional focus on the intersection of energy trading, maritime transport and global supply chains.

Andrew Mackenzie, Senior Claims Adjuster, Brit

Andrew Mackenzie MA, FCII is an award-winning Senior Claims Adjuster with over 13 years of experience in the Lloyd's and London marine insurance market. A Chartered Insurer and Associate of the Association of Average Adjusters, Andrew co-authors key CII m arine insurance textbooks and frequently delivers international industry training. He is currently an Executive PhD candidate at Bayes Business School, researching sustainability, autonomous vessels, and emerging maritime cyber risks. His award-winning fellowship research on marine insurance contracts and environmental compliance is published in SN Business & Economics.

Who Should Attend

This event is open to industry professionals across the shipping, energy, and commodities sectors, as well as investors, lawyers, insurers, policy analysts, academics, and Bayes Business School students and alumni.