Dr Kokarakis a 1979 graduate of National Technical University of Athens, holds PhD (1986) and Master's degree in Naval Architecture (1983) and Mechanical Engineering (1984) from the University of Michigan. His doctoral dissertation was in the area of deep-water drilling and the study of nonlinear riser dynamics. He worked in the USA as a consultant undertaking technical problems worldwide. His specialization was in the area of technical investigation of marine accidents. In that capacity, he participated in the technical investigation of the grounding of Exxon Valdez, the explosion of Space Shuttle Challenger, the capsize of drillship Sea-Crest, the fire and explosion of Piper Alpha platform, the foundering of Aleutian Enterprise in Alaska as well as many other accidents of less notoriety. He is currently the Technical Director of Bureau Veritas in the Hellenic and Black Sea & Adriatic Zone.