Today, Monday 11 May 2026, the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, attended the delivery ceremony of Submarine “PROTEUS S-113” as a Museum Ship to the Maritime Heritage Museum in Paleo Faliro, in the presence of the President of the Republic, Konstantinos Tasoulas. On behalf of the political leadership of the Ministry of National Defence, the ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Minister of National Defence Thanasis Davakis.

The submarine will constitute a permanent exhibit of the Hellenic Navy in the Maritime Heritage Park “ULYSSES – THE GREEKS AND THE SEA”, which is currently under construction with a donation from the Non-Profit Civil Partnership of Drama “CYCLOPS”. Its Chairman, Anastasios – Aris Theodoridis, was awarded the rank of honorary Rear Admiral, upon decision of the Minister of National Defence.

SS “PROTEUS S-113” was launched in Kiel on 23 November 1972 and arrived in Greece on 16 March 1973 as the fourth type 209/1100 submarine of the Hellenic Navy.

Almost half a century later, in May 2022, after 260,000 nautical miles and 50 years of service with the Hellenic Navy, “PROTEUS” was decommissioned and will become the first museum submarine of our country.

Exhibits of the Maritime Heritage Park also include Hellenic Navy ships “AVEROF”, the Trireme “OLYMPIAS”, the Submarine “PROTEUS”, the Hellas Liberty, owned by the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy, and “THALES OF MILETUS”, owned by the Aegean Maritime Museum, if it is restored.

The purpose of the Park is to promote Hellenic seamanship and maintain the dominant position of Hellenic shipping in the global community through educational and cultural programmes and various other activities.

This donation is the second donation made by the benefactor Anastasios – Aris Theodoridis after the restoration of the Pavlos Melas House in Kifissia.

In his address, the Minister of National Defence stated the following:

“Your Excellency, the President of the Hellenic Republic, it is my great pleasure to be here today for a highly symbolic event with a national footprint. Our country’s Armed Forces award today the rank of honorary Rear Admiral to Mr. Theodoridis Aris in recognition of his contribution to the country.

But this honour is not only about Mr. Theodoridis. It is about the broader tradition of national benefaction, which has always been part of Hellenism in its great times. The honour to Mr. Aris Theodoridis reflects not only the actual support he provided to the Hellenic Navy, but also his contribution to something greater: the preservation and promotion of national memory, historical continuity, our country’s tradition at sea.

At the same time, today marks the start of the construction work of the surrounding area of the Maritime Heritage Park “Ulysses – The Greeks and the Sea”. I don’t think I need to explain the great historical, cultural, and national importance of this project.

For us Greeks, the sea is an element of our identity. It is a place of creation, communication, economic development and, at the same time in our long history, a place of struggle, sacrifice, fighting for freedom.

The sea has shaped our nation’s extroversion and has built our long-standing relationship with the other states and societies. This is the purpose of the Park, to preserve this sense of continuity, to constitute a living space of memory and education, where Greek citizens, and particularly the younger generation, the young children, can experience firsthand our country’s great maritime tradition. Thus, history will not be a mere narration, but will function as an educational force, a foundation of self-knowledge, and eventually as an experienced relationship with the Hellenic Navy. That’s why the inclusion of “Proteus” to the Park is very important, Mr. Theodoridis, because it is a landmark in the course of the Hellenic Navy, the most modern of the exhibits. Today, it receives a new mission, equally, if not more important: to clarify, to explain, to educate the younger generation.

Currently, ladies and gentlemen, the Park will exhibit four emblematic ships of the Hellenic maritime tradition: The Battleship “Georgios Averof”, the Trireme “Olympias”, the “Hellas Liberty” and of course the Submarine “Proteus”. Thus, historical continuity will be demonstrated in a single area.

I would also like to tell you something that is not widely known; the Battleship “Georgios Averof” is globally the only ship, the only WWI warship still afloat. We saw it a few weeks ago during a proud moment outside the gulf of Faliro as it welcomed the new addition to the fleet, Frigate “Kimon”.

Rear Admiral, Mr. Theodoridis, your donation reflects your faith in the importance of memory and your adherence to the single national and common good. It also stresses, through the presence of the “HELLAS LIBERTY” here, the unbreakable bonds of our Hellenic Navy and our maritime tradition with our merchant marine. The largest merchant marine in the world, as you kindly reminded us in your address.

Mr. Theodordis, our country is a medium-sized country which, however, has always been blessed to have people who understand and appreciate the fact that personal success leads to fulfilment when it transforms into contribution, active contribution to the nation and society. And that this is a great tradition of Hellenism.

A tradition that went hand-in-hand with the great moments of the formation of our nation, that continues today and reminds us that our responsibility to the nation goes beyond words. It is confirmed with actions. Actions honour the past. Actions protect the future. And Greece’s maritime tradition does not belong in the past. It belongs in the future.

Mr. President, allow me a personal note. I am addressing you today before the statue of Admiral Kountouriotis and next to Battleship “Georgios Averof”, which marked the Balkan Wars, the legendary battles of Elli and Limnos, the fulfilment of our nation. Admiral Kountouriotis now belongs in historical memory. Everybody knows him. However, the Captain of this proud ship is forgotten. My fellow Corfiot, Captain Dousmanis who, under the leadership of Kountouriotis, the Admiral aboard the ship, led it under the Turkish guns at Gallipoli.

I would like to pay homage to him too. Mr. Theodorodis, I extend to you our deepest gratitude and thanks.

Thank you very much”.

The ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, as representative of the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Ioannis Tragakis, the Deputy Minister of Local Government Vasilis Spanakis, the Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum Sevi Voloudaki, the Deputy Minister for Rural Development and Food Athanasios Kavvadas, Giorgos Petalotis as representative of PASOK-KINAL, Symeon Kedikoglou as representative of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, Giorgos Rountas as representative of the President of NIKI, MPs Sofia Voultepsi, Dionysios Hatzidakis, Ioannis Kefalogiannis, Andreas Voryllas, Tasos Ikonomopoulos, MP, Honorary Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff, and Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis (ret.), and the General Secretary of Maritime Affairs and Ports Evangelos Kyriazopoulos.

On behalf of the military leadership, the ceremony was attended by the Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Dimitrios Choupis, the Chief of Hellenic Army General Staff, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief of Hellenic Navy General Staff, Vice Admiral Dimitrios – Eleftherios Kataras HN, and the Chief of Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Lieutenant General (HAF) Dimosthenis Grigoriadis.

Furthermore, the ceremony was attended by His Eminence, the Metropolitan of Nea Smyrni Mr. Symeon, the Mayor of Drama Giorgos Papadopoulos, the Deputy Mayor of Paleo Faliro Alexandros Pantazis, general officers of the Armed Forces, representatives of the Security Forces, the shipping industry, and local authorities and bodies.

On behalf of the Non-Profit Civil Partnership of Drama “CYCLOPS”, which provided the full funding for the project, the ceremony was attended by its Chairman, Aris Theodoridis, and on behalf of the Mytilineos Group construction company ELEMKA its CEO, Ioannis Mytilineos.