The Deputy Minister of National Defence Thanasis Davakis attended yesterday, Friday 26 June 2026, as representative of the President of the Hellenic Government, the Oath-taking ceremony of the new Ensigns of the Hellenic Navy and the Port Authority – Hellenic Coastguard, class 2026, conducted at the Hellenic Naval Academy.

The ceremony was honoured by the presence of His Excellence the President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Tasoulas, who presented the swords to the oath-taking Ensigns.

Other attendees were the MP Dionysios Chatzidakis as representative of the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament, the Chief of HNDGS General Dimitrios Choupis, ambassadors of foreign states, the Chief of HNGS Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras HN, the Chief of HAFGS Lt General (Pilot) Dimosthenis Grigoriadis, the Chief of Port Authority – Hellenic Coastguard Vice Admiral (PA) Christos Kontorouchas, the Commandant of the Naval Academy Rear Admiral Ioannis Retsas HN, as well as representatives of the Chief of HAGS and the Chiefs of the Security Forces.

The ceremony was officiated by His Eminence the Metropolitan Bishop of Piraeus Mr Serafeim.

Other attendees were representatives of the Church and the Local Government, Honorary Chiefs of HNDGS, HNGS, members of the Supreme Naval Council, military and civilian personnel of the Armed Forces, as well as relatives and friends of the new Officers.

A total of 51 HN Officers took the oath, of whom 37 were from Greece, 5 from the Republic of Cyprus, 1 from Georgia, 4 from Jordan, 1 from Montenegro, 2 from Senegal, 1 from Tunisia, as well as 32 Ensigns of the Port Authority – Hellenic Coastguard.

After the end of the ceremony, Mr Davakis stated:

“I express my heartfelt congratulations to the new Ensigns of the Hellenic Navy and the Port Authority – Hellenic Coastguard for the meritorious completion of their training and their integration to the personnel of the Armed and Security Forces of our country.

These young people are the guardian souls of our sea borders, the souls of our ships, the souls of Greece in our Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean and the direct descendants of the legendary naval fighters of our Nation in our centuries-old naval history!

The new Officers of Class 2026 are called to serve with faith, self-denial and high level of professionalism, either on the bridges of our warships or on the guarding frontline of our sea borders, continuing our Nation’s tradition, everlastingly and deeply intertwined with the sea.

I preserve the absolute certainty that they will be proven worthy of our glorious naval heritage, guaranteeing that our Flag will always fly proudly across our seas”.