Theodoros Karvelas

Captain Theodoros Karvelas is a senior maritime executive and Master Mariner with more than 27 years of professional experience, spanning sea-going command, ship management, HSEQ, ESG, vetting, regulatory compliance, risk management and maritime governance.

He began his maritime career in 1999 and remained an active seafarer until 2016, serving aboard both cruise ships and commercial cargo vessels and progressing through the ranks to Master Mariner. His 17 years at sea provided him with extensive first-hand experience in shipboard operations, multicultural crew leadership, risk management and decision-making in demanding and safety-critical environments.

In 2016, he transitioned to shore-based management and joined Transmed Shipping Limited, where he served until 2022 as Vetting Superintendent and Designated Person Ashore (DPA). During this period, he developed extensive experience in vessel assurance, safety management, regulatory compliance and vetting, including direct involvement in the significant evolution of the RightShip assessment framework from the former Star Rating system to the Safety Score methodology.

Since 2022, Captain Karvelas has been with Diana Wilhelmsen Management Ltd., where he currently serves as HSEQ Manager, DPA & Vetting Manager, while also leading the company’s ESG agenda and related sustainability initiatives.

His responsibilities encompass critical areas of maritime governance and operational assurance, including HSEQ strategy, ISM, ISPS and MLC compliance, Port State Control, RightShip vetting, incident investigation and root cause analysis, risk management, emergency preparedness, internal and external audits, and continuous improvement across the managed fleet. His ESG responsibilities further extend his role into environmental performance, social responsibility, governance and sustainability, integrating these principles into the company’s broader management framework and decision-making processes.

His professional perspective is distinguished by the combination of 17 years of operational experience at sea and 10 years in shore-based maritime management, giving him a comprehensive understanding of both sides of the ship-shore interface and of the relationship between strategic management decisions and their practical implementation.

Throughout his career, Captain Karvelas has worked closely with seafarers, senior management, Flag Administrations, Classification Societies, Port State Control authorities, vetting organisations and international maritime stakeholders. Operating within a highly regulated and safety-critical global industry has shaped a leadership approach founded on prevention, accountability, transparency, human-centred leadership and evidence-based decision-making.

He believes that sustainable organisational excellence is achieved when people, operational experience, technology and sound governance are brought together with clear accountability and purpose. His professional philosophy is centred on integrity, resilience, measurable impact and the ability to translate strategy into effective action.