The Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias attended today, Tuesday 9 September 2025, the inauguration ceremony for the Infirmary of the Hellenic Naval Academy. The renovation of the Academy’s Infirmary is a grant of the ΜΟΤOR OIL Company, in memory of Nikos I. Vardinogiannis, Hellenic Navy Officer.
Attendees of the ceremony were the Deputy Minister of National Defence Thanasis Davakis, the Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Stefanos Gkikas, the MP of State Admiral (ret.) Evangelos Apostolakis, the Chief of HAGS Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief of HNGS Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras HN, the Chief of HAFGS Lieutenant General (Pilot) Dimosthenis Grigoriadis, the Chief of the Hellenic Port Authority – Coastguard Vice Admiral Tryfon Kontizas, the Commander in Chief of the Hellenic Fleet Vice Admiral Christos Sasiakos HN and the Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of the Motor Oil Group Ioannis B. Vardinogiannis.
Other attendees were Giorgos I. Vardinogiannis, Eleni Kefalogiannis, Pavlos Vardinogiannis, Dimosthenis Vardinogiannis, members of the Vardinogiannis family, Motor Oil (Greece) executives, as well as Honorary Chiefs, Officers, NCOs and Students of the Academy.
Mr Dendias stated during his inauguration ceremony address:
“It is a great pleasure and honour for me to be here today, at the Hellenic Naval Academy, the cradle of our Navy.
Today’s ceremony signals the completion of materialisation of one more grant by the Vardinogiannis family and the “MOTOR OIL” Group, for the renovation of the Academy’s Infirmary.
It constitutes a continuation of a policy for the reinforcement of the Military Academies and the improvement of the training and living conditions of the Naval Cadets. Meaning, an investment to the future of the Hellenic Navy.
I would like to say that today’s act is placed in a series of grants, in a tradition demonstrated through substantial works for the Hellenic Navy General Staff: The upgrade of other infrastructures of the Hellenic Naval Academy, the Hellenic Navy NCOs Academy, the enhancement of the digital infrastructures of the Ministry of National Defence, the imminent building of two Hospitalisation Wings at the Athens Naval Hospital.
It constitutes the living continuation of contribution by the memorable Lieutenant (ret.) Nikos Vardinogiannis and the Honorary Rear Admiral Vardis Vardinogiannis, graduates of the Academy and Officers of the Hellenic Navy, who left behind, to the extended Vardinogiannis family, a legacy of dedication to the Hellenic Navy.
Today’s grant is dedicated to the memory of Lieutenant (ret.) Nikos Vardinogiannis, who served in the Hellenic Navy on surface ships, submarines and in staff posts.
Among us, we have Mr Pavlos and Mr Dimosthenis Vardinogiannis, the sons of Nikos Vardinogiannis. Their presence highlights the fact that their father’s memory continues to inspire and guide, with a sense of responsibility and contribution, their life and attendance here.
Furthermore, I would like to make a reference to the presence of Captain Giorgos Vardinogiannis who is with us today. Ms Eleni Kefalogiannis is also with us. Their presence constitutes the living reminder of a familial continuation and dedication, which connects the Vardinogiannis family with our Homeland for decades.
This grant is exceptionally useful for the Hellenic Navy. I don’t mind telling you that all three Military Academies required significant investments to improve their facilities and be able to provide our new Officers the level required for their particularly hard training.
In a few weeks, “KIMONAS” will sail in the Faliro Bay, being the first new generation frigate, the first Belharra (FDI), and three more will follow, as we also hope that two Bergamini Italian frigates will follow, for which the negotiations will be concluded within the next few weeks.
However, all of the above are without significance if there is no personnel capable of staffing and serving, with self-sacrifice, the achievement of their purpose.
In that sense, Mr Giannis Vardinogiannis, today’s grant becomes part of a continuity and constitutes a message to the Naval Cadets, that your Group acknowledges and honours their decision to dedicate their lives in the defence of the Homeland, of the sovereignty, of its sovereign rights at sea.
On behalf of the Ministry of National Defence, I wish to express my gratitude for today’s grant and especially for the example set by this grant. It will bring about the impact of the Vardinogiannis family, operating as a point of demonstration of social responsibility. A legacy added to the collective memory of the Hellenic Navy.
Thank you very much”.
