ΦΙΛΙΑΤΡΑ ΕΠΙΜΕΝΟΥΜΕ ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΙΔΡΥΜΑ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ

Δευτέρα 16 Μαΐου 2016

Η "ΗΠΕΙΡΩΤΙΚΗ" ΕΙΝΑΙ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΤΙΚΟ ΑΓΑΘΟ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΑΣ




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 and in 1961 initiated with the Hermes  the 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 transporting a large number of Greek guest passengers.
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 with its vessel Jason.
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 and longer cruises round the world.
Now entering the Luxury Cruise Market, Epirotiki represents in Greece the world’s most acclaimed cruise line Crystal Cruises, Pullmantur and Wamos as well as other premium brand Lines. With this new move Epirotiki is in the position to serve its discerning clientele by offering a wide spectrum of cruise products.
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 – Olympic



 July 23, 2015