The Association

Leading with purpose and vision.

About MISA

The Malta International Shipowners Association (MISA) is a voluntary, non-profit organisation that has been serving as the unified voice of the Maltese international shipping community for over 20 years. MISA brings together leading shipowners of Maltese ships from across the world to represent their interests in Malta, in Europe, and at the global level.

Malta is an important international maritime hub, with the Malta Flag being the largest in Europe and the sixth largest worldwide. MISA serves as a unified voice for shipowners and bareboat charterers of Maltese-flagged vessels, advocating on their behalf and raising the profile of an industry vital to the ongoing prosperity of Malta.

As the primary representative body for owners and charterers of Malta-flagged vessels, MISA has provided a credible, authoritative, and effective platform to shape Malta’s shipping jurisdiction, to influence EU and international policy, and to safeguard the competitiveness of Maltese vessels on the global stage.

MISA aims to:

Promote and protect the interests of registered shipowners, chartered, and lessors of Malta-registered vessels and Malta’s international shipping industry.
Advocate for the continued attractiveness and competitiveness of Malta as a shipping jurisdiction.
Engage with national and international bodies to influence maritime policy at all levels.

Find out about our Membership by clicking here.

MISA is administered by a Secretariat based in Malta and located within the building of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry of which MISA is a corporate member.

MISA affiliations

MISA has a long and distinguished history of representing, promoting, and safeguarding the interests and collective voice of its members. The Association's objectives are to promote the interests of Malta registered owners, charterers, and lessors of Malta registered ships and to facilitate dialogue between the Maltese authorities and members.

MISA offers owners the chance to be proactive in discussions on prospective EU and international policy changes (especially with regard to IMO and ILO deliberations), and to lobby on behalf of the interests of Maltese ships at European and international bodies, including the European Commission and European Parliament. MISA therefore provides both national and international advocacy, ensuring that members' voices are heard at every level:

National Representation:

MISA is crucial for national representation, strengthening members' legal advocacy by consolidating recurring concerns into collective messages. It maintains a close, professional relationship with Transport Malta (TM), which encourages MISA to expand its membership to better provide input on technical, policy, and strategic matters.

MISA engages widely with Maltese ministries and authorities—including Transport, finance, economy, environment, foreign affairs, and the Office of the Prime Minister—working closely with Transport Malta, the Malta Ship Registry, Malta Business Registry (MBR), and the Commissioner of Revenues to protect shipping interests.

Key impacts include: playing a role in Malta joining the Clean Energy Marine Hubs initiative, securing registry digitalisation reforms in June 2025, proposing simplification of financial reporting requirements, making a submission to the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission, and actively shaping Malta’s Maritime Strategy.

MISA is a corporate member of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry and the Malta Maritime Forum (MMF) – the entity representing the Malta maritime cluster – with MISA’s General Secretary sitting on the MMF Board of Directors.

MISA works together with these national associations, including the Malta Maritime Law Association (MMLA), to advocate for matters of importance to the Malta maritime cluster, elevate shipping on the national agenda, and ensure the sharing and discussion of EU and international information.

European representation:

MISA is a full member of the European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA) and an active participant in its various committees – in particular Environment, Social, Shipping Policy, Legal, State Aid, Taxation, Ship Finance.

MISA has been nominated to the ECSA negotiating team for the social dialogue negotiations with the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) on the implementation of the MLC into EU legislation.

MISA engages with Maltese authorities to influence Malta’s positioning in EU fora, maintains dialogue with EU institutions including the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee, and submits its own positions directly to the EU consultations.

Recent submissions include responses to the consultations on the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) (May 2025), the EU Industrial Maritime Strategy, and the EU Ports Strategy (July 2025).

Global Representation:

Since June 2025, MISA has been a full member of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).

As a full member, MISA contributes more fully to the work of ICS, including at the political level - strengthening its ability to represent the interest of Maltese shipowners and contributing to shaping international maritime policy.

MISA, through its Secretariat, is an active participant in its various committees, in particular Environment, Labour Affairs, Maritime Law, Shipping Policy.

MISA is active in numerous forums

Governance and leadership

SECRETERIAT

MISA’s Secretariat is led by the Secretary General and is responsible for: day-to-day operations; policy coordination; member engagement; national, European and international representation.

The Secretariat is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Association and for implementing the strategic direction set by the President and the Executive Committee.

It coordinates MISA’s policy, advocacy and stakeholder engagement work, including relations with Maltese authorities, European institutions and international organisations. The Secretariat supports members on regulatory, administrative and strategic matters, coordinates submissions, statements and public positions, and represents MISA in meetings and technical fora at national, European and international level.

The Secretariat is currently headed by Dr Claudia Vella Casagrande, who is a lawyer and previously served at the Malta Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels and as a Director for Social, Fiscal and Legal Affairs at the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA).

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

MISA is governed by an Executive Committee elected by the membership. The current Executive Committee will remain in position from 2023–2026.

MISA President: Ms Marily Frangista

Marily Frangista is Managing Director at Franco Compania Naviera S.A. Her maritime career spans over 40 years and includes executive and non-executive roles across institutional organisations. She has served on the Board of Directors of the National Bank of Greece (2010–2014) and is a founding member of Endeavor Greece. She has been President of MISA since 2022 and represents MISA in ECSA and ICS.

MISA Vice President: Dott. Emanuele Grimaldi

Emanuele Grimaldi is President & Managing Director of Grimaldi Euromed SpA, Managing Director of Grimaldi Group SpA and Board Member of Grimaldi Deepsea SpA, President and CEO of Finnlines Plc, President of Minoan Lines and Malta Motorways of the Sea and Board Member of ACL. He is ICS Chairman, Past President of Confitarma (Italian Shipowners’ Association), Vice President of MISC (Maltese Shipowners’ Association) as well as Board Member and Past President of ECSA (European Community Shipowners’ Associations), Board Member of Interferry Inc. and Board Member of Rina SpA. In 2018 he was awarded as Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland.

MISA Treasurer / Secretary: Dr. John Coustas
Dr John Coustas is President, CEO and a member of the Board of Directors at Danos Corporation and Danaos Shipping. He is Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Swedish Club, a member of the Board of Directors of the Union of Greek Shipowners and a member of the DNV Council.

Other Members of the Executive Committee

• Mr Athanassios Martinos — Managing Director, Eastern Mediterranean Maritime

Ltd

• Mr Metin Düzgit — Vice Chairman, Düzgit Group, Vice chairman of Turkish

Shipowners association and the ICS.

• Mr Filippos Lemos — Co-owner, Lemos Group / Enesel Group

• Mr Christian Cigrang — Shipowner, CLdN Shipping / Cigrang family group

• Mr John C. Lyras — Principal, Paralos Maritime Corporation S.A.

• Ms Melina Travlos — Chair of the Board, Neptune Group (Neptune Lines &

Neptune Dry); President, Union of Greek Shipowners

• Mr Stefanos Pesmazoglou — Co-founder, Aims Shipping Corporation

• Mr Stefanos Koropoulis — Co-founder, Astra Shipmanagement

• Mr Velentios Velentis — Chairman & CEO, Pyxis Tankers Inc.

Alternates and Honorary Members are also recognised for their continued contribution to the Association.

Honorary Executive Committee Members:

Mr Nikolaos Pappadakis – Honorary President

Mr Vassilis Dalacouras – Honorary Member

Mr Stefanos Lekanidis – Honorary Member

Mr Joseph Curmi – Honorary General Secretary

Mr Lino Vassallo – Honorary General Secretary

Ms Marily Frangista is the current President of MISA.

Past Presidents of MISA include:

Nicky Pappadakis
Melina Travlos