Commercial Arbitrator (non-lawyer) with mixed commercial, legal, and technical experience

Prokopios Krikris grew up in a mariner family, where early visits to bulkers and tankers sparked his interest in the industry. He is now a professional with over 15 years of commercial experience, spanning operations, chartering, technical, post-fixture, and legal functions across the dry, wet, and oil-trading sectors.

 

His career includes progressive roles as Chartering broker assistant, Operations executive, Operations manager, Claims executive, Claims manager, and Legal Director, as well as independent work as an expert and consultant advising on charterparty disputes, claims resolution, and clause drafting.

​

In his current capacity, he continues to advise chartering teams on clause drafting during negotiations and supports operations departments on day-to-day commercial matters. Prokopios has participated in numerous onboard repairs involving structural damages—including collisions, groundings, explosions, rudder and engine failures, stevedore damages and cargo pump issues—as well as cargo operations alongside and hold-cleaning procedures, even working as a member of a cleaning gang in 2007. Between 2012 and 2014, he spent a cumulative period of nearly four months in Nigeria, regularly attending vessels during discharge operations and supervising a special survey. At that time, he held meetings with local Charterers to discuss the resolution of disputed issues.

​

Prokopios has participated in more than 60 arbitration proceedings (disputes arising from time and voyage charterparty, MoA, CoA, and Bill of Lading, involving bulkers and tankers), acting either as consultant or expert or arbitrator—serving either as sole arbitrator or as a member of tribunals (30 arbitrations from 2023-2025). His caseload includes charterparty disputes, bunker disputes, bills of lading, MoA, and cargo claims.

​

Prokopios is a non-lawyer who holds advanced qualifications in Maritime Studies (Master), Maritime Law (LLM with distinction), Contract and Tort Law (as part of an LLM in Dispute Resolution), and Maritime Arbitration (DipCIArb) and several accredited certifications in laytime, ship operations, legal writing, contract drafting, Arbitrator's skill development series, award writing and  dispute resolution. He maintains a strong interest in law, arbitration, and technical maritime matters.