 In 1829, after the war's end, he purchased a 1/3 share in the brig "Nelson", and pursued trade with it until 1833, when the ship was purchased and commissioned into the Royal Hellenic Navy, with Papanikolis as captain.In 1836 however the ship sank after ramming a reef off Zakynthos, and Papanikolis was placed in suspended service until 1841, when he was given command of the corvette "Amalia".In 1843, after the 3 September 1843 Revolution, he was elected as a representative of Psara for the constituent assembly.