PRESS RELEASE: Emanuele Grimaldi takes MISA helm as Malta flag nears 100 million gross tonnes
Valletta, Malta – 13 October 2026: The Malta International Shipowners Association (MISA) has announced that Emanuele Grimaldi will take over as President following its Annual General Meeting, held on 9 October at The Malta Chamber in Valletta.
Mr. Grimaldi, a founding member of MISA and with extensive experience in leading other shipping bodies, succeeds Marily Frangista, who has led the Association since April 2022 and will now serve as Vice President, while Dr John Coustas continues as Secretary/Treasurer.
The transition comes as the Malta ship register has reached 94 million gross tonnes, consolidating its position as Europe’s largest ship register and bringing it closer to the 100 million gross tonnes milestone.
Building on strong foundations
Commenting on his new role, Mr. Grimaldi said: “MISA was established in 2004, on the eve of Malta’s accession to the European Union, out of a shared vision to provide a collective voice for owners and bareboat charterers of Malta-flagged vessels operating internationally.
“I am proud to have been closely involved since its establishment and wish to acknowledge John Lyras, with whom I shared that vision, our fellow founding members and former Presidents Nicky Pappadakis and Melina Travlos for their contributions.
“I wish to pay particular tribute to our outgoing President, Marily Frangista, for her outstanding dedication and the tremendous work she has undertaken, especially over the past couple of years, to strengthen MISA, raise its profile and enhance its international engagement. It is a privilege to succeed her. I look forward to building on this progress and further strengthening MISA as an effective voice for its members.”
John C. Lyras, a founding member of MISA, said: “I could not think of a better successor to Marily than Emanuele. Having only recently concluded his term as Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping, following his earlier leadership of Confitarma and European Shipowners (ECSA), he brings exceptional international experience to MISA. His longstanding ties to Malta and his contribution to international shipping, recognised through honours and distinctions from several countries, including Malta, make him ideally placed to take MISA to the next level of engagement, nationally and internationally”.
Outgoing President Marily Frangista said: “It has been a great privilege to serve as President of MISA over the past four and a half years. I am delighted that Emanuele Grimaldi, a founding member of our Association and one of the most distinguished figures in the international shipping community, is taking over. I wish him every success and look forward to continuing to support MISA and its work.”
Dr. Claudia Vella Casagrande, Secretary General of MISA, said “MISA has made important progress in strengthening its role as a bridge between the Malta-flagged fleet and the Maltese authorities, expanded its presence at European and international levels, and broadened its membership to better reflect the diversity of the fleet. We look forward to building on this progress with Emanuele and further strengthening MISA’s contribution to Malta’s maritime future.”
Strengthening national and international engagement
MISA’s two-day gathering brought together senior representatives of Government, the Opposition, authorities, diplomats and maritime stakeholders, underlining the Association’s growing reach.
Minister Chris Bonett participated throughout the programme, while Ministers Silvio Schembri and Miriam Dalli contributed by video. International participants included Thomas A. Kazakos, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), and Fanny Lossy, Senior Director at European Shipowners | ECSA. European Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas also attended MISA’s dinner on 8 October.
The discussions spanned decarbonization, competitiveness, international maritime governance, maritime security and the human element. They reflected the pride MISA’s members take in flying the Malta flag and their commitment to its continued success. MISA emphasised the need to strengthen Malta’s wider maritime business environment through closer coordination across Government and continued engagement between the authorities and the international shipowners it represents, while encouraging Malta to make fuller use of its considerable standing and influence as a leading flag State in shaping European and international shipping policy. About MISA
Established in 2004, the Malta International Shipowners’ Association (MISA) is a voluntary, not-for profit organisation representing owners and bareboat charterers of Maltese ships engaged in international shipping.
MISA provides a collective voice for its members at national, European and international level, promoting their interests and the competitiveness of the Malta flag and wider maritime business environment.
MISA's membership continues to grow and diversify, reflecting the breadth of the Malta-flagged fleet and its international ownership. Its membership currently includes shipping interests from Greece, Italy, Türkiye, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway and Poland. Its recently introduced Associate Membership category also extends participation in the Association to maritime service providers supporting the Malta-flagged fleet.
MISA is a full national member of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and European Shipowners | ECSA. It is also a corporate member of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, the Malta Maritime Forum (MMF), and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (Malta Branch).
Media Enquiries
Dr Claudia Vella Casagrande
Secretary General | Malta International Shipowners Association (MISA)
Mobile: +356 9908 8231
Email: cvc@misa.mt
Website: www.misa.mt
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