Athens: Andriaki Shipping, founded by the famous N.J.Goulandris back in 1953, has been through enough peaks and troughs to know how to weather the worst storms – the trick, top management reveal to Maritime CEO – is to stick to what you know best.
Sealing medium- to long-term charters, keeping a tight lid on finances, adjusting to new technologies and having strong family-based human relations form the four key planks of the company’s actions under CEO Dimitrios Korkodilos. Korkodilos has been with Andriaki since 1979.
The company’s fleet today has four suezmaxes and two VLCCs. On top of that Andriaki has four 74,000 dwt LR1 product tankers on order at South Korea’s STX Offshore & Shipbuilding – the first time the line has ordered such ship types.
The family-run line places great emphasis on nurturing long term careers. Retaining dedicated crews, officers and shore personnel – many of whom have started their career with the company – is something that fills Korkodilos with pride.
Andriaki also maintains a special cadet training program both for Greek and overseas crews.
On the tanker markets, Korkodilos reckons volatility is not necessarily a bad thing.
“The oil and gas markets hide so many factors beyond anybody’s control and that instability in the market is not always bad,” says the veteran tanker player.
