AN54_en

Aegean News 

T H E Q U A R T E R L Y M A G A Z I N E O F A E G E A N 

SUMMER 2016 

Posidonia 2016 

The Aegean 

Party 

Aegean Global 

Market Trends 

Interview 

Nikolaos 

Hondos 

General Manager 

Aegean Bunkering 

Services Inc. 

Plus 

Flows & Currents 

Travel with Aegean 

Posidonia 

2016 

Athens Hosts the Global 

Shipping Community

editorial 

Facing the future. 

Posidonia 2016, the world’s most impressive maritime 

event, held in Athens since 1969, brought together 

the global shipping and maritime community for one 

week. During that time, all stakeholders were able to 

meet, explore current market trends, forge new partnerships, 

and assess the industry as it moves forward. 

Aegean, as it has for 20 years, participated in Posidonia 2016 with two stateof-the-art 

exhibition spaces. Top Aegean executives were able to represent the 

wide-ranging activities of the company–shipping, bunkering, environmental 

and port facility services, lubricants and petroleum products, and agency—to 

visitors from around the globe. 

For public and private stakeholders, Posidonia provided an opportunity to 

discuss key policy developments facing the shipping and maritime industry. 

Prime Ministers, ministers, ambassadors, commissioners, and other government 

decision makers met the private sector within a common framework to 

address legislation, environmental concerns, safety issues, and new technologies 

that will impact the industry for years to come. 

Aegean, as always, was attuned to the discussions, exchanges, developments 

and decisions that can, in many ways, determine the next stages of its growth 

and expansion program. 

Future success stems from past performance and current preparations. 

Being prepared for tomorrow ensures that decisions are made with market insight, 

industry understanding, and a competitive edge. Posidonia 2016 proved 

to be a key tool that allows Aegean to keep its finger on the pulse of the industry 

and formulate its strategy—local, regional, and global. 

RAYMOND MATERA 

Publisher 

Aegean 

Core Activities 

Retail 

AEGEAN OIL has established a gas station 

network throughout Greece, and is one of 

the fastest growing companies in the retail 

market. AEGEAN’S gasoline market share in 

Greece is 8%. 

Shipping 

AEGEAN SHIPPING manages a fleet of tankers, 

ranging from 28.610 to 50,926 DWT, 

that transfers and delivers oil to our clients 

throughout the world. All ships meet ISM 

standards. The Company’s new GreenFleet 

(http://www.greenfleet.gr) incorporates 

the latest technologies to ensure reduced 

operating costs and reduced emissions, 

while increasing overall performance. All 

ships are certified by ISM, ISPS and MLC as 

well as with ISO 9001, 14001, 18001 and 

50001. AEGEAN SHIPPING is additionally 

certified with ISO 22301. 

Bunkering 

AEGEAN MARINE PETROLEUM is a leader in 

providing the best bunkering services available 

in Piraeus, Patras, Gibraltar, Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp, 

Fujarah, Jamaica, 

Singapore, Trinidad & Tobago, Portland-Falmouth, 

Vancouver, Montreal, Mexico, Tanger 

Med (Morocco), Canary Islands, Panama, 

Barcelona, Algeciras, Baltimore, Philadelphia, 

New York, Norfolk, Charleston, Los 

Angeles and Long Beach, Hamburg, the Gulf 

of Mexico, St. Petersburg, South Africa and 

Brazil. AEGEAN MARINE PETROLEUM is the 

market leader in bunkering. 

Agency Services 

Ships from around the world rely on AEGE- 

AN AGENCY services at Piraeus, Gibraltar, 

Fujairah, and Jamaica, from loading and 

discharging, to spare parts and supplies. 

Lubricants 

AEGEAN OIL produces and markets high 

performance lubricants for vehicles and 

industrial use, under the AEGEAN brand. 

AEGEAN MARINE PETROLEUM trades and 

supplies lubricants for the marine market 

under the ALFA brand. 

SUMMER 2016 AEGEAN NEWS 1

You're on the move. So are we. 

Get Aegean News wherever you are. 

Aegean News iPad version 

is now available at the app store. 

Enhanced with video, more photos, 

and interactive content! 

ANY TIME 

WHERE

AEGEAN 

MARINE 

PETROLEUM 

contents 

20 

Aegean hosted one of the most 

impressive parties of the entire 

Posidonia week 

10 

Aegean presented its D-Force diesel fuel at the 

Hyatt Regency Hotel in Thessaloniki 

24 

Nikolaos Hondos, General Manager 

of Aegean Bunkering Services Inc., 

discusses Aegean’s position 

as the world’s largest independent 

physical supplier 

Summer 2016 

Aegean News is published 

quarterly by AEGEAN 

CODE: 5169 

PUBLISHER & MANAGING EDITOR 

Raymond Matera 

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR 

Alexandra Loli 

DESIGN 

Snack 

PRINTING AND BINDING 

Korifi Publications SA 

OWNER 

Aegean 

10 Akti Konydli 

185 45, Piraeus, Greece 

Tel: +30 210 458 6000 

Fax: +30 210 458 6241 

E-Mail: info@aegeanoil.gr 

Websites: www.aegeanoil.gr, 

www.ampni.com 

Comments and suggestions 

are welcome. 

Aegean News is free of charge and 

is available, subject to availability, to 

any interested person or organization. 

Please Recycle 

4 AEGEAN UPDATE 

9 PONTIAN NEWS 

Events Honoring the Pontian and Armenian 

Genocide 

10 RETAIL 

Aegean Presents D-Force Fuel to Northern 

Greece Service Station Owners 

11 HELLENIC ENVIRONMENTAL 

CENTER 

• Presentation at the Port of Alexandroupolis 

• Distinction of HEC at the European Business 

Awards for the Environment 

12 AEGEAN GLOBAL 

Up-to-Date Market Trends from Around the 

World by Executives from Aegean’s Global 

Bunker Stations Network 

14 FLOWS AND CURRENTS 

Trends and News in the Oil 

and Energy Fields 

16 POSIDONIA 2016 

• The World’s Most Prestigious 

Maritime Event 

• Aegean at Posidonia 2016 

• The Aegean Party 

24 THE AEGEAN INTERVIEW 

Nikolaos Hondos, General Manager of Aegean 

Bunkering Services Inc. 

26 STATIONS OF THE MONTH 

• Kostas Pagratis, Corfu 

• Athanassios Raptis, Thessaloniki 

28 MARITIME TRADITION 

The Traditional Boat Association of Greece 

29 TRAVEL WITH ΑEGEAN 

Milos 

28 CHILDREN AND THE 

ENVIRONMENT 

The Lost Kingdom of Cleopatra 


AEGEAN UPDATE 

Fedon Tomazos, Cass Technava; Sarah Yang, Cass Technava; Spyros Fokas, Aegean; Dong Yezong, General Manager Cosco 

Shipyard; George Melissanidis; Swem Sun, Commercial Director of Cosco Headquarters 

Aegean Shipping Inks Deal 

for Four Aframax Newbuildings with 

Cosco Shipyard in China 

Aegean Shipping Management signed a contract with Cosco Zhoushan shipyard to build four 

next-generation Aframax carriers with delivery in 2018. 

This marks the latest NB contract since the company delivered four MR sisters from Daesun 

Shipbuilding in Korea in 2014. These eco-tankers, coined the Green Fleet, also employ advanced 

engineering and design components, allowing for significantly lower fuel consumption 

and huge minimization of emissions. The new Aframaxes will fly the same ‘Greenfleet’ Banner 

as their smaller fleet sisters, and continue to follow suit with the strategy of the company to 

reduce their carbon footprint. 

Chairman George Melissanidis said, “I am pleased to announce the signing of four NB 

113,000 dwt crude carriers at Cosco Zhoushan shipyard. In this time of such global uncertainty 

and a dormant NB market, we are renewing our commitment to international shipping.“ 

Mr. Melissanidis continued, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Cosco for their support 

and look forward to cementing this relationship between our two companies, which are 

so closely aligned in terms of quality and commitment to first class service.” 

Aegean Shipping invests in cutting-edge technology, enhancing its human resources and 

managing its fleet above and beyond international standards. 

Pontian Music and Dance 

During Halftime at NBA Game 

The NBA honored Greek heritage day 

in a unique way. Traditional Pontian 

music and dance was the highlight of 

the halftime show at the Philadelphia 

76ers game against the New York 

Knicks. The proud Pontian “Akritai” of 

Philadelphia, who descend from Koromilia, 

Kilkis, danced to the tune of Daouli and Lyra players as they circled the 

76ers emblem on center court. 

Hamburg Port 

827 th 

Anniversary 

“Cast off and Ahoy!” Aegean and HEC 

celebrate the world’s greatest port 

festival, the 827th birthday of the 

Hamburg harbor. 

More than 1 million visitors annually 

attend the maritime people’s 

festival of superlatives, inspired by 

the hundreds of ships from all over 

the world in the heart of Hamburg. 

The port of Hamburg and its birthday 

have a long tradition; since 

Kaiser Friedrich Barbarossa granted 

citizens of Hamburg a charter on 

May 7, 1189, which guaranteed 

exemption from duty for ships on 

the river Elbe from the city to the 

North Sea, the Port Birthday has 

grown and is a popular attraction for 

visitors from near and far. Special 

highlights include a four-kilometer 

long ‘Harbor Mile’ promenade, the 

ship parades, a unique tugboat ballet 

and breathtaking fireworks. Aegean 

and HEC enjoyed a vibrant event with 

good business friends and partners 

onboard the Commodore. 

Aegean and HEC executives onboard the Commodore 

4 AEGEAN NEWS SUMMER 2016

Another Successful Search & Rescue 

Operation for M/T Rizopon 

On April 13, 2016, following the instructions of the Italian Maritime Rescue 

Coordination Center, Aegean's ASM tanker M/T Rizopon, while drifting off 

Zawia, launched a rescue operation of 235 immigrants (6 babies, 111 female, 

118 male). The 235 immigrants were found onboard two rubber boats, in the 

waters between Italy and Libya. Nationalities declared by the immigrants are 

as follows: Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Guinea, Soudan, Cameroun, Ivory Coast, 

Tanzania, Somailia, and Senegal. M/T Rizopon approached the two boats, 

safely collected all immigrants on board and resumed her voyage to Caglierim 

Sardenia (Italy) following the instructions of the Italian Maritime Rescue 

Coordination Center. The crew offered the immigrants food, water and milk. 

On April 14, 2016 M/T Rizopon reached her destination port and delivered the 

immigrants to the Italian Authorities. 

This is the fifth successful rescue operation for the M/T Rizopon. 

Aegean Shipping is proud of our Captain, Officers and crew and we congratulate 

them for their good seamanship and gallant efforts! 

ALBA students at the Aegean headquarters in Piraeus 

ALBA Students 

Visit Aegean 

On May 16 twenty students from ALBA 

Graduate Business School visited the 

Aegean headquarters in Piraeus. ALBA is a 

non-governmental, non-profit educational 

organization established by the Hellenic 

Federation of Enterprises (SEV), the Hellenic 

Management Association (EEDE), and the 

Commercial and Industrial Chamber of 

Athens (EVEA). Ninety companies, many of 

which are shipping companies, are corporate 

members of ALBA. 

The students attended a presentation, 

which took place on the 8 th floor of the 

Aegean headquarters under the supervision 

of Prof. Spyros Vougious. The students had 

the opportunity to ask senior Aegean executives 

questions related to trading, bunkering 

and shipping. Professor Vougious 

thanked Aegean for the hospitality. Aegean 

continues to invest in education by supporting 

young students and future career 

men and women. 

Immigrants delivered to the Italian authorities 

Presentation by Nikolaos Hondos of Aegean 


AEGEAN UPDATE 

Marine Pollution 

Response 

Exercise in 

Aspropyrgos 

The Floreal at Port Elizabeth 

Port Elizabeth Supply 

of French National Army Frigate 

On April 19 Aegean supplied Floreal, a monitoring frigate of the French National Army, at 

Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Floreal's mission is the monitoring of French Exclusive Economic 

Zones. In 1993, she took part in United Nations Operation in Somalia II to protect Blue Helmets. 

In 1995, she took part in the capture of the Head of Comorian Presidential Guard Bob 

Denard (1929-2007), in the Comoros. 

Aegean has made a fresh and dynamic start in South Africa by deploying the 70,000dwt M/T 

Umnenga as floating storage in Algoa Bay, ensuring constant availability and efficient operations. 

Algoa Bay is strategically situated with an 8-10 mile deviation from the main shipping routes 

between the Middle East, Americas and Europe. The bay is well protected with open access to 

high seas and space for numerous vessels at anchorage. Passing vessels bunkering at Algoa Bay 

benefit with no time lost waiting for inport bunker deliveries and save significantly on the calling 

costs at South African ports. Aegean’s M/T Lefkas, a double-hull bunker barge, conducts bunker 

deliveries. Aegean will deploy a second barge in the near future to expand supply operations. 

Vessels are supplied either at the anchorage or inport (Port Elizabeth and Coeaga Port). 

Marine Fuel RMG 380 and Marine Gasoil (MGO 0.1) is available at ISO 8217 standards. Operations 

run on a 24/7 basis. 

On June 15 the Aegean antipollution 

team held a marine pollution response 

exercise at the Melco installation in 

Aspropyrgos as part of the annual 

staff training program for 2016. 

During the exercise Aegean staff 

created an antifouling barrier using 

pollution absorption materials and 

trained the new company staff. 

Antipollution barrier and pollution absorbers 

AEK is the 2016 Greek Cup Winner 

Greek association football club 

AEK F.C. (Athlitiki Enosis Konstantinoupoleos, 

Athletic Union of Constantinople, 

abbreviated as AEK), 

returned in the top level leagues of 

Greek football after winning the 

Greek Cup for the first time after 

five years. AEK won the Cup, upsetting 

champion Olympiakos 2-1 at the "Spiros Louis" Olympic Athletic Center 

of Athens (OAKA), filling with joy the team’s supporters, who have stoically endured 

the challenge of being in a lower level league for the past few years. 

AEK has returned stronger! "We are coming" turned into "we are here!" This is a 

new beginning and the best is yet to come! 

Logging On 

Customers and associates 

may log on at: 

www.aegeanoil.com 

Customers and associates of Aegean 

Marine Petroleum may log on at: 

www.ampni.com 


Barcelona Antipollution Drill 

On May 17 an antipollution drill was carried out at the port of Barcelona with 

the participation of the Aegean IOS I barge. 

The Aegean pollution combating team followed the plan with all needed materials 

and contained the spill before it expanded beyond control and polluted the 

sea area. The Barcelona Port Authorities expressed their satisfaction in the way 

the captain and crew responded. 

Aegean, with the strictest environmental standards in the shipping sector, 

maintains its staff in a state of vigilance, with proper training at regular intervals. 

With experience in training, and the will to protect the environment, we 

are optimistic about the environment we will leave to our children. 

Aegean participates in anti-pollution exercise at the port of Barcelona 

Voluntary 

Blood Drive 

On June 22 a Greek Red Cross blood 

donation mobile unit came to 

the Melco facilities in Aspropyrgos to 

enhance the blood bank of the 

company. As expected, many 

Aegean employees participated to 

the12th Aegean blood drive. The 

colleagues who donated blood are 

Dimitris Kamenidis, Zafiris Kyrmpeis, 

Panagiotis Kalogeropoulos, Adil Kara, 

Aris Nakas, Kostas Skalas, Panagiotis 

Chatzidimitriou, Konstantinos 

Kantarellis, Archonion Giannikouris, 

Dionysis Symeoforidis, Petros 

Kordalis, Panagiotis Kyriakopoulos, 

Athanassios Azaroglou, Panagiotis 

Misailidis, Panagiotis Kolympiris, 

Paraskevas Paraskevas, Kyriakos 

Boutzikas, and Yiannis Komninos. 

Aegean Opens New COCO Service 

Station on Mykonos Island 

As part of the company’s corporate strategic planning implementation, 

Aegean has launched a new COCO (Company Owned Company Operated) 

service station on Mykonos, which is already in full operation serving 

the customers of the island. 

The service station is located in Amigdalidi on the new ring road of the 

island that connects Ano Mera with the port. Aegean created this new 

service station with respect for the unique architectural style of Mykonos 

and installed the most advanced and environmentally friendly technology. 

The new Aegean service station on Mykonos offers all types of liquid 

fuel and vehicular LPG. The service station also supplies tourist boats 

that visit the island using company-owned tanker trucks. 


AEGEAN UPDATE 

Nikolaos Hondos, Dimitris Melissanidis, Mokhele Tsietsi, Spyros Fokas and 

Salvatore Drago 

Nikolas Tavlarios 

The Aegean dinner 

Aegean Celebrates 

On June 7, during the week of Posidonia 2016, Aegean Marine 

Petroleum hosted an event on the eighth floor of the 

company’s headquarters in Piraeus for the representatives 

from all Aegean bunkering stations around the world. Old 

and new colleagues had the opportunity to further strengthen 

their relations and better familiarize themselves with the 

company. Associates from Singapore, Antwerp, New York, 

new friends from St. Petersburg, Rio and Hamburg, and 

Manolis Chochlakis, Boris Gronenberg, Stathis Pavlikakis, Alvaro Marques de Azavedo, 

Iason Ktenas, Gratsiella Kladis, Hara Fikiris, Tony Vertommen, Geert Boden, Vedran Bovan, 

Dennis Ho, Leonidas Broumas, Dorothy Papadogiannis, Panos Tsikleas, Mary Skafida, Sotiris 

Delidimitriou, Andrew Ananiev, Soumela Fotiadou, Gregory Robolakis, and Antonis Pavlakis. 

colleagues from the AMP and ABS attended the dinner in 

the presence of Dimitris Melissanidis and Nikolas Tavlarios. 

Mr. Tavlarios delivered a short speech, during which he 

stressed the need for continued communication between 

Aegean executives to better address everyday problems and 

optimize results. 

The evening was very pleasant, highlighted by a song by fellow 

aspiring singer from the Antwerp office, Geert Boden. 

Charity Race 

On June 4, during the week of Posidonia 2016, a five-kilometer street race was held 

in Piraeus with participants from around the world. The proceeds were donated to 

charity. The starting point and the finish line were at the Municipal Theatre of Piraeus. 

Twenty Aegean employees participated, worthily representing the company: S. Kintas, 

P. Kolympiris, P. Kalogeropoulos, M. Samson, K. Barlou, E. Filiopoulou, M. Xenou, M. 

Bokou, A. Topalidis, N. Zaharopoulos, S. Papadopoulou, M. Halou, I. Kyranas, P. Lialios, 

E. Panagopoulou, N. Mendrinou, D. Konomi and B. Motou. 


PONTIAN NEWS 

1 

2 3 

4 5 6 7 

1. The audience at the Temple of Olympian Zeus 2. Savvas Kalenteridis, Dimitris Melissanidis, George Tsalouchidis, Ivan Savvidis, and Christina Sahinidis 3. Young dancers 4. The drums set the 

pace 5. The Minister of National Defence, Panos Kammenos 6. Traditional dancers 7. The knife dancers 

Majestic Events in Memory 

of the Pontian Genocide 

Pontians and Armenians Send Out a Powerful Message from the Temple 

of Olympian Zeus in Athens 

Two peoples with an extraordinary history and culture, Pontian Greeks and Armenians, shared an event 

of remembrance that took place at the Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens, "a brilliant night in a sacred 

place" said the presenter, Alexis Kostalas, sending out a strong message: "We remember, we honor our 

past, and we move forward stronger than ever." 

Events in memory of the genocide 

of Pontian Greeks and Armenians 

took place in Athens on May 21. The 

proceedings initially unfolded along the pedestrianized 

Dionysiou Areopagitou Street 

at the foot of the Acropolis hill. The high 

point of the evening was without a doubt the 

musical performance at the Temple of Olympian 

Zeus, which included dozens of dancers 

and singers, melodies from drums and lyres, 

Pontian and Armenian traditional dances, as 

well as alterations of recitation and music, 

all indicating how similar the two cultures 

are, much like their tragic history. The Minister 

of Defense, Panos Kammenos, who 

opened the event, said: "An apology by the 

Turkish government will redeem the Turkish 

people from the burden of collective guilt." 

The Interior and Administrative Reconstruction 

Minister Panagiotis Kouroumblis, 

Deputy Minister of Defense Dimitris Vitsas, 

Deputy Finance Minister Trifon Alexiadis, 

Deputy Minister of State for Coordinating 

Government Operations Terrence Kouik, the 

leader of the Greek centrist party (Union of 

Centrists - Enosi Kentroon) Vassilis Leventis, 

the Chief of Hellenic Army General Staff of 

Pontian descent Lieutenant General Vasilios 

Tellidis, and the Chief of the Hellenic Air 

Force General Staff Lieutenant General Christos 

Vaitsis attended the event. The President 

of the Armenian National Committee in 

Greece (ANC Greece) Kerop Ekizian, Pontian 

cosmonaut Theodore Giourtsichin-Grammatikopoulos, 

Vice President of the Armenian 

National Assembly Eduard Sharmazanov, 

DISYPE president George Parcharidis, Prof. 

Konstantinos Fotiadis, the President of 

Greek National Union of Pontian Officers 

George Tsalouchidis, the soprano of Pontian 

descent Sonia Theodoridou, the Paralympic 

athlete Gregory Polichronidis, the businessman 

Ivan Savvidis, and the founder of Aegean 

Dimitris Melissanidis were also present. 

An emotional audience watched with undiminished 

interest the performances on 

stage, which emitted humanism and messages 

of militancy worldwide. 


RETAIL 

Aegean Presents 

D-Force Fuel 

to Northern Greece Service Station Owners 

On June 16 Aegean presented its D-Force Diesel Fuel at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in 

Thessaloniki. Numerous Northern Greece service station owners, in whose stations the new D- 

Force fuel is now available, attended the event. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

1, 2. The presentation of D-Force in Thessaloniki 3. The outdoor reception at the Hyatt 4. The dance group of the “Akrites of Pontos” cultural association 5. Northern Greece service station operators 

6. Iakovos Melissanidis (center) with members of the “Akrites of Pontos” 

Iakovos Melissanidis opened the 

presentation with greetings and a 

few words. 

Following Mr. Melissanidis, Anna 

Papatheocharis, a chemical engineer 

and the representative of the company 

that manufactures the additives for 

D-Force, presented the participants 

with the properties and advantages of 

the new fuel, and Antonis Papadakis, 

Deputy CEO of Aegean Oil, briefed 

the station owners on the successive 

stages of tests and checks prior to the 

final selection and the marketing of 

D-Force within the Aegean service 

stations network. 

After the presentation the quests 

enjoyed a reception at the outdoor 

area of the Hyatt in an extremely 

pleasant and relaxing atmosphere, 

while the dance group of the “Akrites 

of Pontos” cultural association provided 

the guests with a performance 

to remember. 


HELLENIC ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER 

Presentation at the Port 

of Alexandroupolis 

On June 9 HEC hosted a presentation on the protection of the marine environment and 

the application of appropriate rules and regulations at the request of the Port Authority of 

Alexandroupolis. Staff, officers, and members of the Alexandroupolis Port Authorities were 

present at the event. 

Theo Gavrielides, HEC’s partner in Eastern Macedonia 

and Thrace, informed the executives of the 

Alexandroupolis Port Authorities on topics such as 

types and quantities of waste, environmental legislation, 

international, EU and national legislation on waste management, 

as well giving the HEC company profile. The 

participants found the presentation very interesting and 

had numerous questions for Mr. Gavrielides. 

Concluding his speech, Mr. Gavrielides said that what 

must emerge from his presentation is improved coordination 

in the process of control and waste reception from the 

Alexandroupolis Port Authorities and the concessionaire 

company, HEC. 

The Alexandroupolis Port Authority representative 

agreed with Mr. Gavrielides’ proposal and everyone concurred 

that such events that aim at information sharing 

should take place with the participation of port users. 

Distinction of HEC at the European Business 

Awards for the Environment 

On March 30 the Greek Association of Environmental Protection (PASEPPE) and the European Commission's 

Environment Directorate (DG Environment) announced the winners of the European Business Awards for the 

Environment (EBAE). 

HEC is among the finalists in the 

third category (Process Award) 

and in the subcategory “Business 

& Biodiversity Award.” 

The competition is open to companies, organizations, and 

public and private institutions that successfully combine 

innovation, economic viability, sustainable development, 

environmental protection and commitment to the circular 

economy. The award ceremony will take place in Tallinn in 

October 2016. 


AEGEAN GLOBAL 

Aegean 

Global Market Trends 

On the occasion of Posidonia 2016, executives from Aegean’s global network of bunker stations 

met in Athens. Aegean News presents up-to-date market trends from around the world. 

Gregory Robolakis 

General Manager 

Aegean Marine Petroleum S.A. 

Greece this year is benefiting from increased 

cruise traffic and therefore prospects 

for the entire season are improved. 

Aegean positively capitalized on this trend 

and of course we are positioning better due 

to our infrastructure, reputation, pricing, 

service and our growing global brand name. 

Captain Christopher 

Roberts 

Aegean Bunkering USA (LLC) 

Regional Manager Americas, New York 

On the East Coast of the U.S. Aegean is 

positioned well because we always have 

supply and our operations staff is second 

to none. The ship-owners know that when 

they do a deal with Aegean it will be done 

properly and professionally. The market 

is starting to trend upward and it is a 

dogfight (especially in New York.) Currently 

there are six suppliers in New York 

so it is an extremely competitive market. 

All the more need to be on top of everything 

operationally. 

Salvatore Drago 

Director, Global Trading, New York 

Our ability to source and blend fuel oil 

from around the globe has been a great 

asset to Aegean as we continue to expand 

our bunkering business in locations such 

as Port Elizabeth. 


Boris Gronenberg 

Marketing, Marine Fuels 

Managing Director, Hamburg 

Aegean in Hamburg has been growing 

steadily since opening operation almost 

two years ago. We are proud to have established 

our presence in this market with 

strategically located storage facilities and 

would like to thank our German partners 

for their continuous support. 

Dennis Ho 

General Manager, Singapore 

The year 2017 presents an exciting time 

for Aegean in Singapore when mass flow 

meter (MFM) supply becomes compulsory 

on all bunker tankers. Aegean’s barges 

have all been fitted with approved MFMs. 

Together with our expertise on cargo 

sourcing and our already well-regarded 

supply capabilities, we are ready to embrace 

the new regime. 

Jonathan Mcllroy 

Bunker Trading Manager, Piraeus 

Globally, Aegean’s strategy is to expand 

back to back trading worldwide, benefitting 

from the existing presence of a market-leading 

physical supply network. 

Tony Vertommen 

Managing Director, North West Europe, 

Antwerp, Belgium 

In a huge market like the ARA, every day 

starts as a challenge. Nevertheless we 

at Aegean manage to maintain and even 

strengthen our position, being the top 

supplier covering all ports of our area. 

This is only possible due to the professionalism 

of our complete staff in combination 

with our logistic infrastructure. 

Andrew Ananiev 

St. Petersburg, Russia, Director 

Although the Russian market experienced 

a steady volume rise in early 2016, the 

Aegean Neva office managed to add many 

new clients to it’s portofolio. We also 

welcomed recent news the cooperation 

agreement between Rosneft and Hellenic 

Refinery as a sign of improving economic 

relations in the industry. 

Alvaro Marques 

de Azavedo 

Managing Director, South American, 

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 

2016 is the right time for the start of 

operations for Aegean in South America. 

Certainly it is a challenging market as many 

countries find themselves amid a crisis 

but, on the other hand, it is a time of opportunities 

and market changes. 

With Aegean’s expertise in the physical 

markets we will be able to develop new 

business niches, not only in established 

markets but also in remote locations. 


FLOWS AND CURRENTS 

Divers Explore 

A 1,600-Year- 

Old Roman 

Shipwreck 

At first divers stumbled across 

a sculpture partially buried in 

the ocean floor 30 miles from 

Caesarea. That discovery led to the 

remnants from a 1,600-year-old 

shipwreck off the coast of Israel. 

The Israeli Antiquities Authority 

examined anchors from the ship, 

water jugs, fragments of full-size 

statues, smaller sculptures and 

lamps, including one of the Roman 

sun god Sol, as well as two large 

clumps of coins, which helped give 

experts an idea of when the ship 

sank. Two Roman rulers depicted 

on the coins helped researchers 

place the shipwreck between 300 

and 500 A.D. 

Experts can't say for certain what 

caused the ship to sink. They theorize 

it tried to anchor itself in 

place during a storm but ended up 

smashing against nearby rocks and 

a seawall. Weirdly enough, winding 

up on the ocean floor might have 

helped the relics survive the last 

several centuries. Experts believe 

the ship was taking them to be 

melted and recycled. 

Interactive Map Shows 

Global Ship Movement 

Large ships carry about eleven billion tons of cargo around the world every year. 

Ships transport all kinds of goods from port to port and that is what makes the 

global economy go round. Now there's a great way to visualize this entire process, 

through an interactive map from the UCL Energy Institute, which traces 

container ships, dry bulk carriers, oil and fuel tankers, gas carriers, and ships 

transporting vehicles by type. One can even zoom in on different regions. The 

researchers assembled data from the thousands of commercial ships that moved 

across the ocean in 2012. They then worked with the data visualization studio 

Kiln to make this map. https://www.shipmap.org/ 

Shipping Industry Needs 

More Seafarers 

Unless seafarer-training levels are increased 

significantly, the growth in demand 

for seafarers could generate a serious 

shortage in the total supply of officers. 

An additional 147,500 officers will be 

required by 2025 to service the world 

merchant fleet. The IMO (International Maritime 

Organization) reports that the current 

shortfall stands at 2.1%, amounting to 

some 16,500 officers, and some officer 

categories are in a especially short supply, including engineer officers at management level 

and officers needed for specialized ships such as chemical, LNG and LPG carriers. Although 

the global supply of officers is forecast to increase steadily, increasing demand will most 

likely outpace this. In the past five years the industry has made good progress with increasing 

recruitment and training levels and reducing officer wastage, as the report estimates 

that there is a current surplus of 15.8%, about 119,000 ratings, with demand only having 

increased by about 1% since 2010. 


One of the Largest Cruise Ships 

in the World In Piraeus 

The prestigious Ovation of the Seas sailed into Piraeus this past May. PPA executives greeted 

the captain and crew at the port. The impressive ship, which started its maiden journey in 

Trieste, measures 348 meters in length, weighs 168,666 tons and can accommodate 4,180 

passengers. With 1,300 crewmembers, the Ovation spans 18 decks and features 2,091 

cabins. The ship, recently constructed at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany, is intended for 

the Far East and China markets. Passengers get a choice of 18 restaurants and virtual cabins 

with a balcony and internal units with large digital displays that ensure that every room has a 

view. What's more, a glass capsule, which rises 300 feet above sea level, offers passengers 

a 360-degree view. 

Warmer Ocean Waters Powered El Niño, 

Scientists Say 

El Niño (Spanish for "the boy") 

is the warm phase of the El Niño 

Southern Oscillation and is associated 

with a band of warm ocean 

water that develops in the central 

and east-central equatorial Pacific. 

The phenomenon is accompanied 

by high air pressure in the western 

Pacific and low air pressure in the eastern Pacific and causes global changes of 

both temperatures and rainfall. 

A new study provides insight into how the current El Niño, one of the strongest 

on record, formed in the Pacific Ocean. The new research finds easterly winds 

in the tropical Pacific Ocean stalled a potential El Niño in 2014 and left a swath 

of warm water in the central Pacific. The presence of that warm water stacked 

the deck for a monster El Niño to occur in 2015, according to scientists. 

A History 

of the Postwar 

Greek Shipping 

Industry Hits the 

Bookshelves 

Gelina Harlaftis’ "Greek Shipowners 

and Greece: 1945-1975, From 

Separate Development to Mutual 

Interdependence" (2015) outlines 

the basic structure of Greek shipping 

firms, analyzes the Greek shipowners' 

ties to the rest of the Greek economy, 

as well as the specific problem and 

policy dilemmas that are associated 

with these ties. Harlaftis, a Professor 

of Maritime History in the Department 

of History at the Ionian University on 

the island of Corfu, explains that the 

reasons for the Greek Shipping’s enormous 

expansion after the Second World 

War have been the subject of considerable 

debate and the net benefits to 

Greece—as distinct from the welfare 

of individual entrepreneurs—have 

also been the focus of discussion. The 

book provides a thorough account of 

this perplexed but extraordinary story 

while the body of data presented and 

analyzed makes it possible to form an 

informed historical view of Greek preeminence 

in sea transport. 


POSIDONIA 

Posidonia 2016 

1 

Athens once again hosted the global shipping community at Posidonia 2016, the world’s most 

prestigious maritime event, held at Athens Metropolitan Expo June 6-10. 

Posidonia 2016 in Numbers 

Visitors 

22,000 

Exhibitors 

1800 

Countries Represented 

90 

Square Meters 

40,000 


2 

3 

1. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras 

2. Cutting the ribbon 

3. President of the Opposition Kyriakos Mitsotakis arriving 

4. Posidonia live 

5. The Opening Ceremony 

4 5 

More than 22,000 shipping 

industry professionals visited 

Posidonia to meet, 

network and do business with more 

than 1,800 exhibitors from 90 countries 

deployed across 40,000 square 

meters. 

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras inaugurated 

Posidonia 2016 with Minister 

of Shipping and Island Policy, Theodore 

Dritsas. The inaugural ceremony 

was attended by heads of states, European 

Union officials, Greek cabinet 

members, foreign maritime ministers, 

ambassadors, board members of the 

Union of Greek Shipowners, chairmen 

of international organizations 

as well as some 1,800 exhibitors and 

delegates from around the world. 

“Posidonia 2016 has managed to 

set new records in floor space, number 

of conferences and seminars as 

well as visitor numbers showcasing 

the unrivalled appeal the event enjoys 

amongst the world’s maritime community,” 

said Theodore Vokos, Executive 

Director, Posidonia Exhibitions 

S.A, the event’s organizer. 

“The vote of confidence we receive 

from our repeat exhibitors is a recognition 

that gives us the confidence 

and drive to work even harder to further 

improve the overall experience 

of those who honor us with their participation 

and attendance every two 

years,” he said. 

Posidonia 2016 was held under 

the auspices of the Greek shipping 

community and the five major associations 

representing Greek shipping 

interests: Ministry of Maritime Affairs 

& Insular Policy, Municipality of Piraeus, 

Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, 

Union of Greek Shipowners, Greek 

Shipping Cooperation Committee, 

Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association 

and Association of Passenger 

Shipping Companies. 

The next Posidonia event scheduled 

to be held June 4-8, 2018. 

Professional 

Learning 

A rich program of conference sessions, 

focused workshops and 

seminars were held at the venue. 

Chaired by industry leaders and technical 

experts, the education events 

addressed issues, challenges and 

opportunities facing the industry. 

Posidonia 2016 also hosted the 

Tradewinds Shipowners Forum at the 

Posidonia conference hall. 

The Posidonia 

Games 

A highly popular part of the Posidonia 

business social mix, the games appeal 

to the competitive nature of shipping 

professionals but in a spirit of friendly 

rivalry. The Posidonia Games program 

included the Posidonia Cup yacht race, 

the hugely popular five-a-side Posidonia 

Shipsoccer Tournament, the Posidonia 

Golf Tournament and the new 

addition to the Posidonia program, the 

Posidonia Running Event. 


POSIDONIA 

Aegean 

at Posidonia 2016 

1 

3 

2 4 


Aegean was well represented at Posidonia 2016, with two impressive exhibition spaces, for both 

Aegean and Hellenic Environment Center. 

Executives from Aegean Marine 

Petroleum, Aegean Shipping 

Management, Aegean Oil, Aegean 

Lubricants, Aegean Agency and 

HEC were on hand daily to meet 

customers from around the world, to 

introduce the company and its many 

products and services to new visitors, 

and to discuss trends and challenges in 

today’s market. 

George Melissanidis of Aegean 

Shipping said, “Posidonia is a key 

event for Aegean. We are able to take 

a pulse of the market with face-toface 

meetings, renew relationships 

with established and new customers, 

showcase our expanding portfolio of 

products and services, and forge new 

partnerships. 

We are also proud that Greece, a 

global leader in shipping, hosts this 

event. The accomplishments of the 

Greek shipping industry are well 

known. The influence of our country 

in one of the most crucial sectors in 

the world is reflected in the success 

of Posidonia and we look forward to 

even greater success, both at Aegean 

and in the role of Greece.” 

Rania Atmatzidou-Agiostratitis, of 

Hellenic Environment Center, said, 

“For HEC, Posidonia means communication 

with customers and potential 

customers in a professional yet relaxed 

environment, where everyone is 

focused on new ideas, new projects, 

and new relationships. Hellenic Environment 

Center, as it expands operations, 

is dedicated to providing the 

best service in the market and Posidonia 

allows us to spotlight our strengths 

and pioneering role.” 

1. Grigoris Rompolakis, George Giotas, Pavlos Ioannidis, 

George Melissanidis, Maria Kritikou, Ilias Syrros, Mara 

Giogaki, and Nikolaos Hondos 

2,6. The Aegean Posidonia 2016 booth 

3. George Melissanidis welcomes guests at the Aegean 

booth 

4. Gkratsiela Kladis, Kostas Prearis, Eleftheria Antonellou, 

and Mary Skafida 

5. Jason Ktenas, Mary Skafida, Gina Panousi, Gkratsiela 

Kladis and Gavrilos Paravalos 

7,8. The HEC Posidonia 2016 booth 

9. John Agiostratitis, Panagiotis Stamatogiannis, Rania 

Atmatzidou, and George Melissanidis 

5 

6 

7 8 9 


POSIDONIA 

The Aegean Party 

Aegean once again hosted one of the most impressive 

parties of the entire Posidonia week. More 

than 3000 guests enjoyed an evening of conversation, 

networking, relaxing, dining, cocktails, entertainment 

and music until the wee hours of the morning. The 

event was held June 9 at Balux Prive on the Athenian Rivera. 

The Romanos Orchestra greeted guests with a selection 

of classics dating back to the ‘40s. Then Thanasis Polykandriotis 

and Syrtaki Dancers provided a traditional Greek 

identity to the evening followed by Pontian Dancers. The 

Goldsingers followed before the star of the evening, Antonis 

Remos, entertained the guests with his signature sound. 

1 2 


3 4 

5 6 

7 

8 

1. Amalia Vardiogianni and Spyros Kapralos 

2. Julie Kammenou, Ilias Kammenos, Sophia Sodi, and Panos Kammenos 

3. Irene Ntaifas and Antonis Komninos 

4. Jenny Melissanidou, Dimitris Melissanidis, and Marianna Latsis 

5. George Melissanidis and Eva Kaili 

6. Christos Papazis and Hala Khoury 

7. Eleonora Meleti 

8. Aspasia Leventi, Evagoras Leventis, and Vassilis Leventis 


ΠΟΣΕΙΔΏΝΙΑ 

9 10 

11 12 


13 14 15 

16 17 

19 

18 

9. Loukia Matsa, Ileana Evert, Petros Doukas, and Marina Douka 

10. Zoe Tsitsani and George Tsavliris 

11. Mema Simonetatou and Nikos Agapinos 

12. Tawfic Khoury, Dimitris Melissanidis, and Harris Pampoukis 

13. Marina Lalioti and Kostas Laliotis 

14. Ilias Psinakis and Miltiadis Varvitsiotis 

15. Thanasis Kyratsous and Della Rounick 

16. Paris Kasidokostas, Eva Kaili, and Miltos Kambouridis 

17. Nikos Tsavliris and Maira Tsavliris 

18. Kostas Martakis and Erietta Kourkoulou 

19. Soumela Fotiadou, Stella Lazaridi, Dorothy Papadogiannis, and Mary Skafida 


THE AEGEAN INTERVIEW 

Aegean Marine Petroleum— 

A Global Leader 

Nikolaos Hondos, General Manager of Aegean Bunkering Services Inc., discusses Aegean’s position as the 

world’s largest independent physical supplier of bunkers. 

How did Aegean Marine Petroleum get its start? 

Marine fuels have been the cornerstone and the base on 

which the network of Aegean was built. It all began in 

1995 when Mr. Dimitris Melissanidis established the first 

bunkering station and started to trade marine fuels in the 

largest port of Greece, Piraeus. Since then, the expansion of 

the company in the international markets commenced and 

the bunkering stations and vessels multiplied spectacularly, 

leading Aegean to the top of physical suppliers worldwide. 

This expansion and broadening of Aegean’s business activities 

in the international markets and the promising 

prospects opening up, together with the new ambitious 

plans, led to the foundation of Aegean Marine Petroleum 

Network, which in 2006 entered in the New York Stock Exchange 

(NYSE), a development that changed the business 

scene and opened new prospects for Aegean. 

Today’s fleet is more than 60 vessels. What are the 

greatest challenges in managing this fleet, based around 

the world? 

• The worldwide expansion and presence in various different 

countries around the globe. Station set-up and operation 

in countries with completely different business and 

social cultures requires quick adaptation to local customs. 

• The diversification of AMPNI’s operations. Apart from 

traditional bunkering operations near large ports, the 

trade has expanded to ocean bunkering and chartering of 

vessels for the carriage of petroleum products, which in 

turn require frequent relocation of vessels. 

• Fleet variety. Presently ocean going product tankers, inland 

self-propelled barges and towed barges are operated 

around the world. The operational and statutory requirements 

vary greatly between different vessel types and 

regions of deployment. 

• Cost effective technical management and maintenance. 

Bunkering stations all over the globe and the operation 

of vessels in different, sometime remote, trading areas in 

a constantly changing economic environment is by itself 

a huge task which requires careful planning of scheduled 

maintenance tasks as well as unforeseen damages or 

equipment failures. 

• Logistics of spares/stores/supplies: The large number of 

the vessels in the fleet and their varying locations require 

extra efforts for their cost effective and smooth, uninterrupted 

supply. 

• Personnel aspects: Proper fleet operation and maintenance 

of the ships depends, greatly, on the quality of 

the shore and onboard personnel. The variety of vessels 

and operating regions poses additional challenges to the 

sourcing of qualified personnel, suitable for the specific 

tasks at each location. 

Today’s market is challenged with slowed growth and 

high competition. How would you describe the difficulties—and 

Aegean opportunities—of dealing with this 

mixture of issues? 

The market has been in a prolonged state of flux since the 

onset of the financial crisis in 2008. The oil and shipping 

sectors have been particularly hard hit and as the bunker 

market effectively sits between both of these industries it 

means the business has experienced pressure. Aegean has 

met these challenges by focusing on its core values—professionalism 

of service, competitiveness in price and strategic 

innovation. The combination of Aegean's financial 

strength, global physical presence, long-term experience 

and strong strategic management has enabled the group 

to handle the challenging market situation. Additionally, 

Aegean has been uniquely well-placed to identify and react 

to those commercial opportunities that have surfaced as a 

result of the pressures in the global bunkering and shipping 

industries as shown by new developments which have 

expanded the physical network. Aegean believes that it is 


capable to further consolidate its position as the world's 

number one independent physical supplier even in these 

tough trading conditions. 

There is an increasing concern for Safety and Environmental 

in shipping. How does Aegean address such concerns? 

It is Aegean’s policy to provide healthy and safe working conditions, 

promote and enhance safety as a work culture, prevent 

loss or human injury and avoid any adverse impact on 

the environment (marine or otherwise) including property. 

Besides having a structured Safety & Environmental 

Management System to ensure compliance and conformity 

with IMO regulations and other applicable national and international 

regulations, relevant standards and guidelines, 

Aegean is also certified against environmental excellence 

with ISO 14001:2009. 

Aegean focuses on: 

• Safe and Secure operations (no loss of human lives or 

injuries or damage of the ship or her cargo—no security 

violations) 

• Environmental friendly operations (i.e. Zero spill and or 

air pollution incidents) 

• Establishing safeguards against identified risks, through 

proper Risk Management 

• Continuously improving Safety Management skills of 

personnel ashore and aboard ships, including preparing 

for emergencies related to safety of human life, property 

and environment 

As the largest independent physical supplier in the world, 

how does Aegean view the future of the market, especially 

in light of the recent Posidonia exhibition held in Athens? 

Aegean remains firmly committed to its strategic focus on 

being the world's largest independent physical supplier and 

will continue to innovate to boost that position. We believe 

that the consolidation of the bunker sector in the past 

decade will continue, creating a market-leading group of 

globally-active, high-volume companies with the financial 

strength and strategic vision to manage these challenging 

markets. Aegean sees itself at the forefront of this group, 

benefitting from an expanding global presence in the physical 

supply markets and growth in back-to-back trading. 

This year's Posidonia underlined the resilience of both the 

shipping and bunkering industries after eight challenging 

years since 2008. One of the clear messages that emerged 

from Posidonia is that shipping and bunkering companies 

are partners in facing these market challenges. Successful 

long-term partnerships depend on trust, good communication 

and high standards of professionalism. Aegean is 

Aegean remains firmly committed to its 

strategic focus 

Nikolaos Hondos 

confident that it has such partnerships with its shipping 

clients and that this will contribute to all parties being able 

to successfully navigate the current market difficulties. 

And how do you view the future of Aegean, as it rapidly 

expands, most recently in South Africa and South America 

and with your new back-to-back capabilities? 

Aegean is optimistic. The group is confident in its business 

model and constantly monitors the markets to identifying 

commercial opportunities and innovate new bunkering solutions 

that meet clients' needs. The development of the physical 

supply station in Algoa Bay (South Africa) is an example 

of Aegean's ability to identify trends in global shipping and 

bunkering markets and innovate by creating South Africa's 

first physical supply station at anchorage. The Algoa Bay operation 

is an ideal bunkering solution for shipowners and 

operators with tonnage engaged in trans-Atlantic, East-West 

and North-South trades and the response from clients has 

been overwhelmingly positive. Aegean is currently evaluating 

new physical supply stations in various South American 

markets in a further sign of the group's commitment to strategic 

expansion and ongoing innovation. The addition of 

back-to-back trading on a global basis to complement the 

group's worldwide physical supply presence has been the latest 

step in offering a truly comprehensive range of bunkering 

solutions and has been welcomed by customers that trust 

Aegean professionalism and competitiveness. 


STATIONS OF THE MONTH 

The Best Deal 

Athanasios Raptis & Co., Thessaloniki 

Athanasios’ service station is located in Vassilika, Thessaloniki. We spoke with him about his 

business and his collaboration with Aegean. 

Please tell us about your business 

and your area. 

Our service station is located in Vassilika 

on the Thessaloniki-Polygyros 

road. It is a quiet location in the village. 

90% of our customers are steady 

customers from the region. 

The station occupies an area of 

about an acre and includes a car 

wash and a lubrication station. We 

sell Aegean car fuel and lubricants, 

and have two tanker trucks for heating 

oil distribution. Distribution is 

of great importance to us. Each year 

we sign up an additional 300-400 

customers. 

Are there a lot of service stations in 

your area? How do you deal with the 

competition? What do your clients 

think of Aegean fuel? 

Five othrt service stations operate 

in our area, not too far away from 

ours. As you can understand, since 

the town is pretty small, this number 

(of service stations) is quite large, so 

there is harsh competition. Nonetheless, 

I am confident that customers 

prefer our service station. It has to 

do with the Aegean brand and their 

personal relationship with us. Everything 

matters. This is how we manage 

to survive. 

When was this service station established? 

How long have you personally 

been in the fuel business? 

We opened this service station eight 

THESSALONIKI 

VASSILIKA | 40.485981,23.137961 

years ago. I was not involved in this 

type of business before. It is a family 

business. My children and I work here 

and I don’t employ any staff. 

Have you been with Aegean since 

the beginning? How did you choose 

Aegean? 

We have been collaborating with Aegean 

since the beginning. The reason 

is that they offered us the best deal. 

Mr Raptis’ service station 

Thessaloniki is the second most populous city and area in Greece. The area’s rich 

history stretches back to the Hellenistic period. Vassilika is a town of Thessaloniki 

that belongs to the municipality of Thermi. The first known mention of the name 

“Vassilika” dates back to 1094 in a Mount Athos document. 

Aegean has recently upgraded and renovated our service 

station 

What is your impression of your collaboration 

so far? 

Our collaboration is excellent. Aegean 

supports us. They have recently upgraded 

and renovated our service station. 

They painted everything and did 

what they had to do to renovate the 

service station. So far, they have been 

there to give us what we need and offer 

their help. I would say our relationship 

is ideal. 


A Step Forward 

Kostas Pagratis & Co., Corfu 

Mr. Pangratis’ service station is located in the busiest part of the island, at a distance of one 

kilometer from the port and airport of Corfu on Paleokastritsa National Road (Alikes area). 

Aegean News spoke with Kostas about his business and his involvement in the field of fuel. 

Have you been involved in the fuel 

business for a long time? 

I have been actively involved in the 

fuel business since 1996. Nevertheless, 

this [service station] is a family 

business that was established in 1968. 

Iakovos Melissanidis 

welcomed me as a friend. 

He trusted me. So he won 

me over. 

Please talk to us about your service 

station. 

We sell car fuel, car lubricants, and 

heating oil. We also run a car service 

station and a coffee shop. On the side 

we also run a company called Corfuel 

(www.corfuel.com) active in fuels and 

yachting services. 

When did your collaboration with 

Aegean start? 

Approximately two years ago. 

What made you decide to trust Aegean? 

Everything was a matter of timing. I 

had to take a step forward. I studied 

Aegean’s course from 1995 on and I 

spoke with company representatives. 

They were willing to answer all my 

questions "without expecting anything 

from me,” as they told me. And 

of course the "icing on the cake" was 

Iakovos Melissanidis. Straight talk. He 

welcomed me as a friend. He trusted 

me. So he won me over. 

How is your collaboration with Aegean 

today? 

Our cooperation is very good. We 

proceed looking forward. 

Talk to us about your customers. 

After so many years in this field we 

have built a strong relationship with 

our clients. We are there for them and 

they support us. We have a large clientele 

base and strive to overcome the difficulties 

of our time by helping them as 

much as we can. And they reciprocate. 

The service station of Mr Pagratis 

CORFU 

PALEOKASTRITSA NATIONAL ROAD- ALIKES POTAMOU AREA | 39.630672,19.884866 

Located at the entrance of the Adriatic Sea, near the coast of Agii Saranda (Albania), 

Corfu is the second largest of the Ionian Islands and forms the northwesternmost part 

of Greece. Renowned for its beauty, Paleokastritsa, a coastal village northwest of the 

town of Corfu, lies just south of the Byzantine castle Angelokastro. Scholars argue 

that Paleokastritsa was the ancient capital of Corfu where Nausicaa found Odysseus. 

How does your clientele respond to 

the Aegean brand? 

In the beginning the Aegean brand 

seemed strange to them, as it was not 

well known on the island. But they 

trusted us and they were happy with 

the fuel quality. Now they are telling 

us that we should have switched over 

to Aegean years ago. 

Is there a lot of competition in your 

area? How do you deal with it? 

There is a lot of competition from various 

companies. We are who we’ve always 

been. We don’t do something different. 

The Aegean brand takes care of 

the rest. 


MARITIME TRADITION 

The Traditional Boat 

Association of Greece 

Reviving and Preserving Maritime Tradition since 1999 

In November 1999 25 lovers of the old Greek shipbuilding art founded a cultural group 

under the name "Friends of Traditional Boats" in Perama, Attica. In 2014 the group was 

renamed and is now known as "The Traditional Boat Association of Greece.” 

The Traditional Boat Association 

of Greece aims first 

and foremost to preserve old 

wooden hulls (such as Trehandiri, 

Karavoskaro, Perama, Tserniki and 

others) and restore them. The association 

also promotes laws that favor 

the use of traditional boats for tourism 

and favor traditional boat yards. 

In addition, they work to protect the 

marine environment. One of their 

goals is to establish a maritime museum 

of traditional boats. The association 

also takes pride in their effort 

to teach young people traditional 

sailing techniques and traditional 

boat building. 

At the EU level, association members 

have been trying to bring to 

the attention of the European Union 

the extinction of traditional boats 

through the practice of subsidies. To 

stop this practice they are trying to 

introduce a program that will allow 

them to salvage and restore more traditional 

hulls, which are historic monuments, 

through private ownership. 

Traditional Boat Show 

As part of their attempt to preserve 

and promote Greek maritime tradition, 

the Traditional Boat Association 

of Greece organized in May 2016 the 

4th Traditional Boat Show on the island 

Poros, in collaboration with the 

island’s Municipality and the Municipal 

Port Authority. Visitors had the 

opportunity to see rare traditional 

wooden hulls decorated with flags 

and pennants. 

The boat show also included two 

musical evenings with traditional 

island music, as well as two exhibitions: 

the exhibition of photographs 

by American photographer Robert A. 

Mc Cabe, entitled "Aegean Boats 1954 

- 1964" at the Citronne Gallery and a 

painting exhibition by Chrysa Delaporta. 

There was also an impressive exhibition 

of boat paintings by the pupils 

of the Poros primary school. 

The man of honor this year was the 

boat builder Stavros Tsikis who has 

built and repaired countless kaikis in 

Poros, many of which are still sailing 

on the Aegean Sea. 

We thank the Traditional Boat Association of Greece for 

kindly providing the material for this article. For more 

information please visit the association’s website at 

http://www.traditionalboats.gr as well as their page on 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/traditionalboatshow.gr/ 


TRAVEL WITH AEGEAN 

Μilos 

Known since prehistoric times, Milos is located in the Western 

Cyclades and has features different than most Cycladic islands. 

Its volcanic nature and unparalleled natural beauty, rich history, 

great food and friendly people make Milos an incomparable 

summer destination. 

Because of Obsidian, a precious mineral of the Stone and Bronze Age, 

Milos has been popular since the prehistoric years. The intense volcanic 

activity gave Milos its current geological features that are full 

of contrasts and compose the exceptional beauty of the island. 

Venus de Milo 

The famous statue of Aphrodite of Milos was discovered by a Greek farmer 

in a field at the archaeological site in the village of Klima. Today the statue 

is located at the Louvre Museum in France. It is an incomparable model of 

femininity and female beauty, known throughout the world. 

Aegean service station 

Must See 

Milos Castle Built on the hill of Prophet Elias 

in the town of Plaka, the Castle was created 

during the reign of the Duchy of Naxos and 

has no walls, but like most castles in the Cyclades 

is a fortified settlement. 

Museums Milos has five museums. Two stand 

out: the Archaeological Museum, which has a 

copy of the statue of Aphrodite of Milos, and 

the Mining Museum, which presents the mining 

history of Milos since prehistoric times. 

The Catacombs of Milos 

The catacombs of Milos are a unique Christian 

monument of great historical importance, 

since it functioned as a cemetery on Milos in 

the early years of Christianity. 

Kleftiko Beautiful volcanic rock formations 

and deep blue waters characterize Kleftiko, 

a former anchorage of pirates and thieves on 

the south side of the island. Visitors can reach 

this beautiful cove only by boat from the villages 

of Adamas and Kipos. 

Sarakiniko On the north side of Milos lies a 

beautiful geological peculiarity. Volcanic activity 

millions of years ago and erosion from 

the north winds and the sea have sculpted a 

unique lunar-like landscape that promises lovers 

of the sea an unforgettable experience. 

Klima This is the most picturesque of all the 

traditional villages of Milos. The colorful houses 

next to the blue-green sea offer the visitor 

a unique experience. 


CHILDREN AND THE ENVIRONMENT 

I Protect the Environment-I Safeguard my Future 

By staying informed about what is happening in the world and by passing the information on to 

others, we are taking a significant step toward the protection of our planet. 

The Lost Kingdom 

of Cleopatra 


Many advanced ancient civilizations ended due to earthquakes 

or other natural disasters. Precious objects and ruins of ancient 

cities are lost in the depths of lakes, seas and oceans worldwide. 

Such is the lost kingdom of Cleopatra, which was discovered 

buried beneath the deep waters. 

Lost for 1,600 years, the royal quarters of Cleopatra were discovered 

off the shores of Alexandria. Cleopatra VII Philopator 

(69 – August 12, 30 BC), known to history as Cleopatra, was 

the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. 

She was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, a family of Greek 

origin that ruled Egypt during the Hellenistic period after Alexander 

the Great’s death. 

It is commonly believed that an earthquake and tidal waves 

destroyed Cleopatra’s empire. 

A team of marine archaeologists, led by Frenchman Franck 

Goddio, began excavating the ancient city in 1998. Historians 

believe earthquakes and tidal waves submerged the site, yet astonishingly, 

several artifacts remained largely intact. Among the 

discoveries were the foundations of the palace, shipwrecks, red 

granite columns, and statues of the goddess Isis and a sphinx. It 

is a truly amazing underwater site for archaeologists who have 

so far discovered 20,000 sunken treasure objects. 

I BECOME INFORMED - I INFORM OTHERS - I ACT 


Aegean Energy for the Future 

Aegean is Greece's most dynamic energy, petroleum, and shipping group. The company has a network of retail gas 

stations throughout Greece, is active in marine fuels and lubricants, and operates a fleet of tankers and barges internationally 

and domestically to transport petroleum and bunkers for its global base of clients. 

RETAIL MARKET 

Through its fast-growing network of gas stations, Aegean supplies drivers in Greece with gasoline and automotive 

lubricants. Aegean’s modern, well-maintained gas station network has won the trust of drivers due to the high quality 

products and services it offers at competitive prices. In addition, Aegean directly supplies large industrial clients with 

petroleum products of all grades, owing to the consistency and service of its transactions. 

BUNKER FLEET 

NYSE listed Aegean Marine Petroleum Inc., with an exclusively double hull fleet—of which nine ships are newbuildings—is 

the natural supplier of marine fuels at 12 of the most significant ports in the world. Furthermore, with its 

22 newbuildings program in progress and the continuous opening of new stations, it is one of 

the most dynamically developing divisions Of the Aegean Group. 

BUNKERING 

Aegean provides one of the most efficient and responsive bunkering services to 

clients worldwide. Its ships never stop sailing and its services are available 24 

hours a day, 365 days a year. Aegean operates bunkering stations in Piraeus and 

Patras, and in Gibraltar, Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp, Fujairah, Jamaica, 

Singapore, Trinidad & Tobago, Portland UK, Vancouver and Montreal, Mexico, 

Tangiers, Las Palmas and Tenerife, Panama, Barcelona, Algeciras, Baltimore, 

Philadelphia, New York, Norfolk, Charleston, Los Angeles and Long Beach, 

Hamburg, the Gulf of Mexico, St. Petersburg, South Africa and Brazil. All its 

products are ISO 8217 certified. The Company, which is a member of IBIA and 

is ISO 9001 certified, is well positioned on the FOBAS White List. 

SHIPPING 

Aegean's fleet of ships is at the heart of its superior service worldwide. Its vessels 

operate in full compliance with EU and international standards, are all certified by 

ISM, ISPS and MLC as well as with ISO 9001, 14001, 18001 and 50001 and are in 

complete compliance with SOLAS and MARPOL regulations. Aegean continually adds to its 

fleet of ships, which transports oil cargoes worldwide on behalf of major oil companies, 

commercial clients, and Aegean customers. Its new GreenFleet (http://www.greenfleet.gr) 

incorporates the latest technologies to ensure reduced operating costs 

and reduced emissions, while increasing overall performance. 

LUBRICANTS 

Aegean produces and markets high performance lubricants for vehicles and 

industrial use under the Aegean brand and, for the marine market, under the 

ALFA brand. ALFA marine lubricants are certified and approved by the largest 

marine engine manufacturers in the world. 

The resources of our company and our follow–up service create our successful 

relationships and allow Aegean to supply lubricants in more than 550 

ports worldwide. 

ENVIRONMENT-HEC 

The Hellenic Environmental Center collects, transports and processes oil residues 

from ships and land units (industrial, shipyards), while it also manages all liquid residues 

produced by ships. 

In order to carry out its work HEC has the most state-of-the-art equipment, consisting of floating 

separators, a fleet of pollutant-collecting tankers, and well-equipped tank trucks. 

HEC acts to protect the marine environment and at the same time contributes significantly to the saving of energy 

with the recycling procedures it uses to transform the reclaimed pollutants into energy resources. 

TRADING 

Aegean is dynamically active in the trading of crude oil and petroleum products worldwide. The Trading Department 

is comprised of dedicated and professional individuals who combine high level expertise and a great many years of 

experience in the oil industry. Petroleum products are supplied to a broad spectrum of customers who comprise the 

company's portfolio. Aegean has acquired its credibility from the high quality of the services it provides to suppliers 

and ship owners, a fact that supports the company’s ambitions for the achievement of long-range goals in the energy 

sector worldwide. 

Aegean’s websites 

www.aegeanoil.com 

www.ampni.com

AN54_en

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?