ATHENS – The Panhellenic Association “Proteas” and the non-profit company Hellenic Maritime Heritage (Argos C.N.P.C) announced on June 16 that Maritime Heritage Week in Pylos which was scheduled for September 11-19, 2021 has been postponed until 2022. The multi-thematic event centered around the 13th conference of the European Maritime Heritage (EMH) had been planned to take place in Greece with a special tribute to the 200 years of the Greek revolution and the great marine heroes.

The wide range of topics, the exhibition of museum material, the onboard visits and the mooring of historical ships of the time in the port of Pylos, the promotion of our outstanding naval tradition which is intertwined with historical events that held a decisive role in the Greek revolution with the naval battle of Pylos and the overall role of the warship "ARIS" of Tsamados, the interactive presentation of commercial management of past times in the port, are components of a particularly ambitious and inspiring concept for Maritime Heritage Week as envisioned by those involved.

The EMH Conference is in itself a leading event of great importance and worldwide exposure, even beyond the geographical borders of Europe. It is an event through which we wanted to embrace naval traditions and values from the wider Eastern Mediterranean area thus showing that the sea and its supreme maritime crafts know no borders. In fact, maritime traditions and values are a world heritage and an enduring legacy in our spiritual and cultural future.

Throughout the planning process, various difficulties were managed and overcome, except one: The consequences of the pandemic, the lack of normality and finally the inability to ensure the conduct of the Maritime Heritage Week, due to the overall uncertainty.

The greatest difficulty of all came as a result of the inability of EMH partners to secure the participation of reputable researchers and speakers for the conference, as they were unable to ensure their unhindered travel to Greece under the current uncertainty and travel restrictions. However, a prestigious scientific conference cannot be held with last minute preparations. It requires time, effort, coordination, synergies and organization that for the time being is not possible due to the pandemic.

Therefore, taking into consideration the risk of holding a sluggish conference and the consequent undermining of the whole event, the decision was made with great regret to postpone the Maritime Heritage Week for 2022, trusting that the expected conditions will be favorable at that time.

Further details regarding the rescheduling of Maritime Heritage Week and the 13th EMH conference will be announced in due course.

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