After Graduating from the Merchant Marine Academy of Hydra, Capt. Yiannis Tzortzis began his career at sea which spanned for more than 25 years. Capt. Tzortzis is a Master Mariner of unlimited tonnage and all oceans. Following his sea service, he joined the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) as a surveyor for ships & offshore installations. Due to his enthusiasm for safety and quality management being evident from his early days as a marine surveyor, he was promoted to chief auditor for shipping companies’ Safety Management Systems for the ABS Piraeus Branch after the classification Society sponsored his specialty training in the ISM Modules at the ABS Academy in Houston when same was becoming regulation for ship management companies in the 1990’s. Thereafter, he proceeded in becoming an independent quality and safety management consultant for shipping companies. He has been working in the Alkon Holding Management team for nearly 15 years and boasts an impeccable record for the company’s (including vessels) quality and safety management implementation and compliance.