TSAVLIRIS SALVAGE GROUP hosted a cocktail reception celebrating the New Year with a special presentation on the "Challenges of Trading to the US – The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90)" on Tuesday 23rd February 2010. A large part of the Greek Shipping Community descended on the Yacht Club of Greece, including personalities from A. K. Shipping & Trading, Apollonia Lines S.A., Atlas Maritime, Chartworld Shipping, Dynacom, FreeSeas Inc., G. Bros Maritime, Gard, GrandUnion Inc, Laskaridis Shipping Co. Ltd., Marichem Marigases Worldwide Services, Navitas S.A., Pendulum Shipmanagement Inc., Polembros, Pyrsos Shipping Company Ltd., Roussos Shipping S.A.,Springfield Shipping Co. Panama S.A., Stealth Maritime Corporation, Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited, UK P&I Club and Vrontados S.A..

Mr. Alexander G. Tsavliris, son of Mr. George A. Tsavliris, welcomed the guests and was quick to thank their existing clients for their continued support in selecting Tsavliris Salvage as their salvor of choice. He went on to highlight the strategic partnership formed by TSAVLIRIS SALVAGE and T&T BISSO that is aimed at improving both the efficiency and effectiveness of response to salvage requirements in the United States under the OPA 90.

Mr. Mauricio Garrido, General Manager of T&T Bisso and newly elected President of the American Salvage Association then gave a well received presentation on the "Challenges of Trading to the US". He highlighted the program objective of the US Coast Guard's role and the OPA 90 is to minimize environmental harm. This includes preventing spills when possible and planning for spills prior to their occurrence, and also mitigating the effects of spills that do occur by ensuring responsible parties clean up pollution discharges. He then proceeded to discuss salvage under OPA 90, the new salvage and marine firefighting regulations which come into effect on the 22nd February 2011.

After the presentation, a Q&A session chaired by Mr. Nicolas A. Tsavliris and flanked by his brothers George A. and Andreas A. Tsavliris began. Following the concluding comments, a touching presentation was made to an employee of TSAVLIRIS SALVAGE, Mr. Michalis Pagonis, for his staggering 60 years of loyal service to the TSAVLIRIS family. Mr. Pagonis began his career when still just a teenager and worked for the founder of Tsavliris Salvage, Mr. Alexander G. Tsavliris. Now 60 years on, Mr. Pagonis spoke to the three sons, Nicolas, George and Andreas, and told them of how proud he was of being a part of their accomplishment in turning their father's company into one of the most recognized salvage and towage companies worldwide.