EuropeTankers

Aristides Alafouzos, the founder of Kyklades Maritime, dies aged 93

Greece lost one of its most famous shipowners this morning. Aristides Alafouzos died today in Athens aged 93. As well as owning shipping firms Kyklades Maritime and Glafki Maritime, Alafouzos was a newspaper proprietor, at the helm of one of the nation’s best-known titles, Kathimerini.

Born in Santorini in 1924, Alafouzos’s career was not initially in shipping. He set out as a civil engineer. Among his more famous constructions was the Astir Palace, the grand hotel that plays host to many of the biggest parties at the biennial Posidonia gathering.

Alafouzos entered shipping in 1964, and was a loyal supporter of the Greek flag throughout his shipowing career.

The current Kyklades fleet has four LR2s, five aframaxes and two suezmaxes trading plus two ships under construction in Japan.

 

Photo credit: ekathimerini.com

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
Back to top button