EPIROTIKI LINES PROFILE
Epirotiki Lines
is a traditional
shipping company with
a proud and
storied past. Her roots
go back almost two centuries
when in 1850 Anastasios
Potamianos started transporting
goods on barges along the
Danube River.
He was
joined by George Potamianos from Preveza, and together with their vessel Sacra Famiglia engaged in shipping
transport.
Following
the Liberation of Epirus from the Ottoman Empire the Potamianos Family adopted as
its symbol the Golden Byzantine Cross that ever since adorns the
funnels of its vessels.
In 1932
the eldest son of George Potamianos, Anastasios, assumed the leadership of the
company and augmented its activities.
During the Second World War the fleet was totally destroyed by German
bombardments save for one vessel the “G.Potamianos” which served the British
Government and allied forces.
In 1933
Epirotiki operated the first island cruises with the vessel Kimon, organized by
the American Archaeologist Lloyd
Following
the war Anastasios Potamianos bought three ships serving Greek Liner routes and in 1953 bought his
first cruise ship, the Semiramis, which pioneered Greek
Island Cruises.
In
1959-1960 Epirotiki started
to operate with its ferry
Pegasus the Greece-Italy Route Italy – Israel
Line from Venice to Haifa
The
ships Hermes, Pegasus, Atreus, played an important role in linking the mainland
of Greece with the island of Cyprus
In 1964
Epirotiki was one of the first companies to operate Caribbean cruises with its
legendary Argonaut, and 1966 pioneered cruises from Los
Angeles to Mexico
In 1969
the company’s Orpheus was acquired. The Argonaut started cruises in the Baltic Sea and
the Fjords from Copenhagen, while
1970 the Orpheus started 3 years operation from Vancouver and Victoria
to Alaska and Mexico.
Further
vessels such as the Apollo, Jupiter, Neptune and Atlas were added to the fleet
in 1970, 1971 and 1972 and thus Epirotiki became internationally one of the
largest and highly esteemed passengers cruise ship companies.
In 1975
A. Potamianos passed away and his sons George and Andreas guided the company to
further expansion with the cruise ships Oceanos, World Renaissance and Pegasus.
Epirotiki’s ships were sailing the world over, pioneering Maya, Amazon, Orinoco,
Red Sea and Round Africa cruises as well as voyages to South America
destinations including Patagonia . During the
90’s the company entered substantial
cooperative mergers with Carnival Cruises, Sun Line and Louis.
Epirotiki
originally participated in designing the new building Olympic Voyager and
Olympic Explorer, the fastest cruise ships in the world delivered 2000 and 2002
and were handed the award by Lloyd’s Cruise International as the most
significant ships of the millennium.
Epirotiki
operated in the United States and Mexico year – round cruises and in other
countries Epirotiki also received
an award from the USA Olympic Committee during the 2004
Olympic Games.
Andreas
Potamianos has been President of the Greek Ship-owner Association for Passenger
Ships for 23 years and since 2003 Honorary President. Also for the last 15
years and up to date has been President
of the Greek-China Association contributing
in developing friendly and
business relations between the two
countries.
We also
deal with cargo vessels.
Epirotiki
also introduced the one day cruise and operated 7 day, 4 day and 3 day cruises
in Greece
Now
entering the Luxury Cruise Market, Epirotiki represents in Greece
The
company is first cruise vessel was operated in 1933.
We just
enumerate a number of passengers and cargo ships operated before and after the Second
World War.
Names
of ships:
Tassos
– George – Phokion – Petros – Helen – Popi Sacra Familia and others.
Voyager
– Explorer – Everest – George Potamianos – World Renaissance – Atlas –
Orpheus - Apollo – Hermes – Pindos – Semiramis
– Pallas Athina – Oceanos
Ext.
related Monarch – Nicolas – Ioli – Nefeli – Mistral
Eleni,-
Aspasia – Atreus – Pegasos – Hermes 1 – Hermes 2 – Hermes 3 – Semiramis2 – Olympia
July 23, 2015
