On Friday, May 15, 2026, the Eugenides Foundation welcomed 39 students from the Mechanion Merchant Marine Academy (AEN) in Michaniona—specifically third-semester students majoring in Engineering— as part of an educational visit aimed at enhancing their maritime education and familiarizing them with modern technologies and industry practices.
The students were accompanied by the Director of the School of Engineering at the AEN Michaniona, Mr. Charalambos Yakinthos, and Professor Maria Vassiliadou. The team was welcomed by the President of the Eugenides Foundation and IMO Maritime Ambassador to Greece, Mr. Leonidas Dimitriadis-Eugenidis, as well as the Foundation’s Director, Professor Ioannis Golias.
During the meeting, a substantive and open dialogue took place, with the students sharing their expectations, ambitions, and concerns regarding a career at sea and the challenges of modern shipping.
Next, the participants attended a comprehensive training program at the Institute for Training and Skills Development – Lifelong Learning Center of the Eugenides Foundation, which included thematic modules such as:
- Basic Principles of Automation in a Tanker’s Engine Room
- Engine Room Resource Management (ERM), with an emphasis on communication, leadership, and crisis management
- Modern Approaches to Cybersecurity in the Shipping Industry
The program included a planetarium show in the Foundation’s dome, a tour of 57 interactive exhibits at the Science and Technology Center, as well as a hands-on activity utilizing VR, simulation, and safety technologies - Firefighting in a ship’s engine room.
