Nostalgia I would like to welcome you to this installment of Nostalgia, which was inspired by a single but so important truth: “Shipping runs in our Family”. This could be the title of the piece as it reflects our Company’s mentality to act as one caring family. All members ashore, spending much of our time together in our everyday work have developed strong bonds, similar to those in families. We care for one another, support each other and work for the common good and progress. The same mentality has been passed on to our Seafarers. Our vessels have been manned by family members. Even though I do not come from a shipping family, I was personally touched by our colleagues sharing with us their history and the reasons that inspired them to become part of the shipping business. After reading the piece, I am sure you too will conclude that Shipping runs in the family, after all.
Introduced and Compiled by Chara Markatzinou
Andreas Chandris, Fleet Supervisor, Marine Operations Dept. My family’s “Shipping story” started in 1915, when John D. Chandris (a great-great uncle of mine) after years of experience in the shipping industry, bought his first ship. By World War I, the Chandris fleet was made up of four ships, including steamships. Around 1960, his two sons, Anthony and Dimitris, had the idea to rebuild the company, named “Chandris Lines”. Their goal was to establish a new passenger shipping company to carry migrants from Europe to Australia.
The "m/v Century Millenium" A promotional poster from
The Chandris liner service to Australia was closed down in late 1977, when “RHMS Australis” arrived in the 1960s Australia as the last ship carrying government-sponsored migrants. The competition from the cheaper and faster airline industry was simply too much, and as a result, these ocean going liners were converted into cruise ships. The offspring of this business – now called Celebrity Cruises – is presently part of world leaders Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Shipping has always been part of my family’s life, stories and experiences, leading me to study and decide to work for this important worldwide sector. Along with my uncles, my grandfather and my father, I have always been proud to be part of this family, which was one of the industry leaders in the 20th century. I am really happy and proud that today I have managed to become part of this industry. It is an industry which has been around for more than 4,000 years and is still the prevalent in the worldwide trading of cargoes, products and passengers, connecting people from around the world every day. *Source of history text and photos: Wikipedia
Angeliki Oikonomidou, Legal Administrator Mr. Konstantinos Oikonomides, my father, was born in 1943 on the Greek island of Chios, well known for its long maritime tradition. He started his seafaring career at a very young age, travelling worldwide on board tankers and bulk carriers. In the mid ‘80s he returned to Greece and was employed by liner shipping company NEL LINES as Chief Officer on board F/B SAPPHO for the route Piraeus-ChiosMr. Konstantinos Oikonomides on duty Mitilini. After fulfilling his military service, M/V Elisa he joined the crew of M/V ELISA and M/V CONSTANTINOS under the same rank, trading mostly in Mexico, Central America and the US West Coast. With his family growing up, in 1984 he decided to get back to shore as he was offered a job in the Crew Department of Sea Traders S.A., where he remained until his retirement in June 2006.
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Issue 80-June 2022
