On Friday, 27 June 2025, the Deputy Minister of National Defence, Thanasis Davakis, attended the oath-taking ceremony of the New Hellenic Navy and Hellenic Coast Guard Ensigns, held at the grounds of the Hellenic Naval Academy in Piraeus, as representative of the Prime Minister.

The ceremony was attended by H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos Tasoulas, who awarded the swords to the commissioned Ensigns.

The ceremony was attended by MP Nikolaos Vlachakos, as representative of the Speaker of the Parliament, MP Michail Katrinis as Representative of the Chief of the Opposition, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, Vasilis Palmas, the Deputy Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, Stefanos Gkikas, MPs, the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus Stavros Avgoustidis, the Chief/HNDGS, General Dimitrios Choupis, the Chief/HAGS, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief/HNGS, Vice Admiral Dimitrios – Eleftherios Kataras HN, the Chief/HAFGS, Lieutenant General (HAF) Dimosthenis Grigoriadis, the Chief/Hellenic Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Tryfon Kontizas CG, the Chief/Cypriot National Guard General Staff, Lieutenant General Georgios Tsitsikostas, as well as representatives of the Chiefs of the Security Forces.

The ceremony was officiated by His Eminence, the Metropolitan of Piraeus Mr. Serafim.

The ceremony was also attended by representatives of the Church and local government, Honorary Chiefs/HNDGS, HNGS, and Commanders-in-Chief of the Hellenic Fleet, members of the Supreme Naval Council, as well as relatives and friends of the newly commissioned Officers.

In total, 64 Naval Ensigns were commissioned (43 Deck Officers and 21 Engineers), of which 54 from Greece, five from the Republic of Cyprus, one from Albania, one from Jordan, one from Tunisia, and one from Montenegro, as well as 29 Hellenic Coast Guard Ensigns.

After the ending of the ceremony, Mr. Davakis stated the following:

“Today, alongside the President of the Hellenic Republic, the officers of the Armed Forces, their families and friends, we celebrated a special occasion: the oath-taking ceremony of the Ensigns of our Glorious Navy. It is a day of pride, emotion, and great national importance.

With their commissioning, our Navy is reinforced with new officers with high morale and training, ready to respond to the challenges of the modern operational environment. The history and mission of the Hellenic Navy require dedication, discipline, and professionalism – traits which I am sure the officers commissioned today possess.

To the new officers who took their oath today, I wish that they go forth with virtue, courage, and unwavering faith in the values of our Navy and Country. They are the new generation of defenders of our national sovereignty, our maritime frontier, of peace and democracy.

Respecting the traditions of our glorious Navy, while concentrating on duty, you maintain a centuries old tradition.

I wish you a happy start, fair winds and following seas, and may you always return to port safe”.