Wishes for the safe and quick return of Nikos Pappas, the TSAVLIRIS salvage master held in Pakistan for the last six months, dominated the traditional cutting of the New Year's cake held recently at the offices of the Piraeus-based international salvage group.

In his speech, Nicolas A. Tsavliris said that Mr Pappas, who is not allowed to leave Pakistan along with members of the "TASMAN SPIRIT" tanker crew, was "suffering unfairly". He said, "We wish for him as well as his family - who are standing by him - that this ordeal will soon be over and he will back with us again". Mr. Tsavliris encouraged all the group's employees to continue offering moral support to Mr Pappas, who celebrated his 40th birthday in Karachi a few days ago. Together with the crew of the "TASMAN SPIRIT", the salvage master has been charged with pollution-related offences even though he was not present in Pakistan when the tanker lost part of its oil cargo.

Mr Tsavliris referred also to the group's salvage activities in 2003 which were characterized by "major, complex and difficult works" such as the salving of the "KEYMAR" and "NESTOR C" in the Algeria, the "MADREDEUS" in the Baltic, the "JUPITER" in Russia, the "CARIBE C" in Angola, as well as the "TASMAN SPIRIT". "In general we are satisfied with the company's progress of late and I believe we can and must stay in the salvage and towage business," he stated.

The TSAVLIRIS New Year cake was cut this year by Mr Tsavliris' wife Myra. The ceremony also included a blessing with holy water and a prayer for Nikos Pappas, the welcoming of new employees, and a gift presentation to a 30-year veteran of TSAVLIRIS' administrative team, Mimika Kontomissopoulou, who recently retired.