Epirotiki Line
|
Industry
| Passenger and merchant shipping
|
---|
Founded
| 1850
|
---|
Founder
| Anastassios Potamianos
|
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Successor
| Royal Olympic Cruise Lines (Defunct 2005)
|
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Headquarters
| ,
Greece
|
---|
Area served
| Worldwide
|
---|
Services
| Cruises and cargo transportation
|
---|
Epirotiki
was a shipping company that began in 1850. Epirotiki Line operated cruise vessels, cargo and tanker vessels.
Foundation
[
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]
Anastassios Potamianos began his first shipping venture in 1850 transporting cargo and passengers along the
River Danube
between the island of
Cephalonia
and the city of
Br?ila
. Assisting Anastassios was his nephew,
Giorgos Potamianos
. When Anastassios Potamianos died in 1902 Giorgos undertook the management of the company and took the emblem of the Byzantine Cross as the company's trademark, and changed the company name to Epirotiki. In 1916 Giorgos moved to the new centre of shipping of
Piraeus
, acquiring his first steam powered ship. By 1926 the company owned 15 passenger vessels ranging between 800 and 1500 GRT.
World War II
[
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]
During World War II,
Piraeus
was destroyed by German air attacks on the city. Only one vessel was saved, the
G.Potamianos
, which was appropriated by the Allies. At the conclusion of the war Epirotiki began its revival with the acquisition of three ships, ushering in its modern era.
Modern era
[
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]
Initially Epirotiki focused entirely on the cruise ship market and started round trip cruises operating in the
Aegean Sea
,
Greek Islands
and
Eastern Mediterranean
. Acquisitions of vessels such as
Semiramis
,
Pegasus (I)
and
Hermes
helped in the company's expansion. In the 1960s, Epirotiki continued to expand its operation, adding a number of Caribbean destinations. Vessels acquired in this period included the
Argonaut
,
Jason
,
Orpheus
,
Apollon XI
, and
Poseidon
among others.
The cruise industry grew quickly in the 1970s, and Epirotiki became the largest cruise ship company in Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean with additions to its fleet such as the
Jupiter
,
Oceanos
,
World Renaissance
,
Odysseus
,
Mistral
,
Pegasus (II)
and
Triton
. During the 1980s and after the company diversified into dry cargo carriers and crude oil tankers under separate management.
Epirotiki Lines reached South America in 1978 operating out of Sao Paulo to take advantage of the fact that Italian lines could not handle the number of tourists in the tropical summer high season. The Greek company used the
Atlantis
with a crew of Greeks, Italians (mostly) and some Brazilians (mostly chambermaids, to facilitate dialogue on board. The tour operator sold round-trip cruises using the Single Cabin regime, with relative success. This vessel was once the
Adonis
, sister ship to the fleet's
Eros and Jason
; all refurbished as luxury tourist ships. The route chosen along the Brazilian coast linked the ports of Santos (SP), Angra dos Reis (RJ) and Rio de Janeiro (RJ). It is reported that one of the heiresses of the Hellenic business came aboard from Greece, a shaggy, purple short-haired, sixty-year-old lady, overseeing the vessel's services herself. In this business, the Consulate of Greece in Brazil, in Salvador (BA), nurtured the transatlantic booths with extensive printed tourist material with colour photographs and several maps with simulated 2-D terrestrial relief, with the main sea routes of the Greek coast and shorelines.
The peak of the company's global operations was reached in 1990, with the Greek headquarters in Piraeus (Akit Miaouli, 87), consolidating offices in London (6 Quadrant Arcade, Regent St), Paris (8, Rue Auber 9a), Rome (Via Barberini, 47) and New York City (608 Fifth Ave), and for South America business its general representative and travel agent for the Latin America market was the partner Airtour Operator, in Sao Paulo.
In the marine tourism sector Epirotiki consolidated its position through partnerships and mergers. In 1993 Epirotiki made a partnership with
Carnival Cruise Lines
, purchasing ships from Carnival in exchange for shares in Epirotiki. The company acquired the vessels
Pallas Athena
,
Olympic
and
Apollon (II)
.
Around the same time, however, the company faced difficulties, as three of its cruise ships (
Jupiter
,
Pegasus
and
Oceanos
) sank between 1988 and 1991.
[1]
In 1995 Epirotiki merged its operations with Sun Line, creating a new company named Royal Olympic Cruise Lines. Initially maintaining its two brand names, Royal Olympic Cruise Lines began planning a
public offering
of the company in 1997. The company
restructured
its holdings, creating a new entity, Royal Olympia Cruise Lines, and listed on the
NASDAQ
stock exchange (ROCLF) in 1998. The new company collapsed in 2005 and its ships were sold off.
Fleet
[
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]
A list of operating vessels in the fleet:
Former Fleet
[
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]
Ship
|
In Epirotiki service
|
Notes
|
Image
|
Semiramis
|
(1953?1979)
|
Semiramis
was built as the
Calabar
of
Elder Dempster
in 1935, for use on their West African local services. She was bought by Epirotiki in 1953, and is considered by many to have been the first Greek cruise ship. She remained in service until 1979 and was scrapped the following year.
|
|
Atreus
|
(1958?1970)
|
Atreus
was built in 1914 as the
Aarlborghus
of
DFDS
. She was renamed
Frederikshavn
in 1936 and sold to Epirotiki in 1958. She ran until 1968 and was scrapped in 1970.
|
|
Hermes
|
(1955?1960)
|
Hermes
was built as the
Bergen Line's
Jupiter
of 1915. She was purchased by Epirotiki in 1955.
|
|
Hermes
|
(1961?1974)
|
Hermes
was built in 1930 for the
Canadian Pacific West Coast
as
Princess Joan
. Original builders were Fairfields of Glasgow, and its service was between
Seattle
,
Victoria
and
Vancouver
. She originally had three funnels, which was trunked into a single large funnel when the ship was bought by Epirotiki in 1960, entering service the following year. In Epirotiki service it started as three-class ships, on a passenger and car ferry service between
Italy
-
Greece
-
Cyprus
-
Israel
. She was later used for cruising.
Hermes (2)
spent her later years as accommodation ship in
Scotland
, and scrapped in 1974.
|
|
Pegasus
|
(1961?1976)
|
Pegasus
was built in 1930 for the
Canadian Pacific West Coast
as
Princess Elizabeth
. With her sister ship
Princess Joan
her service was between
Seattle
,
Victoria
and
Vancouver
. Along with her sister ship had three funnels. With her sister ship sold in Epirotiki in 1961 and renamed
Pegasus
. She was used as a car passenger ferry between
Italy
-
Greece
-
Cyprus
-
Israel
. She was later used for cruising. Her last years with her sister ship used as an accommodation ship in
Scotland
and scrapped in 1976.
|
|
Argonaut
|
(1964?2003)
|
Argonaut
was built in 1929 as the yacht
Orion
. She was bought and rebuilt as a cruise ship for Epirotiki. She later renamed
Regina Maris
and scrapped in 2003 as
Regina
at
Alia?a
.
|
|
Jason
|
(1967?2005)
|
Jason
was built in 1965 for war reparations as
Aphrodite
in
Italy
. She was later bought for Epirotiki in 1967. She remained in Epirotiki for years and later bought in 2005 for Indian Ocean Cruises as
Ocean Odyssey
. Scrapped in 2010 at
Alang
.
|
|
Odysseus
|
(1967?1980)
|
She was built in 1936 as
MV
Leinster
for
Coast Lines
. Later renamed
Ulster Prince
. Sold in 1967 to Epirotiki. She was broken up in 1987 at
Faslane
.
|
|
Apollon II
|
(1968?1981)
|
Previously named
Irish Coast
for
Coast Lines
. She was bought by Epirotiki in 1968. In Epirotiki service she was initially named
Orpheus
in 1968, then
Semiramis II
and
Achilleus
in 1969, and finally
Apollon XI
, also rendered as
Apollon 11
. In 1981 she was sold to Corporacion Naviera Intercontinental de Panama S.A., and renamed
Regency
in 1982. She ran aground in a typhoon in 1989 and was subsequently scrapped.
|
|
Orpheus
|
(1969?1997)
|
She was built in 1947 as
MV
Munster
for
Coast Lines
. Later renamed
Orpheus
in 1969. Transferred in 1996 to Royal Olympic Cruises.
|
|
Jupiter
|
(1970?1988)
|
She was built in 1962 as
Moledet
for
Zim Lines
. She was bought by Epirotiki in 1970 and renamed
Jupiter
. She sank in October in 1988 near
Piraeus
port after a collision with an Italian car ferry
Adige
.
|
|
Neptune
|
(1971?2001)
|
She was built in 1955 as
Meteor
for
Bergen Line
. Later she caught fire and her remains sold to Epirotiki in 1971. Finally scrapped in 2001 at Aliaga as
Neptun
|
|
Atlas
|
(1972?1986)
|
She was designed as cargo ship for
Holland America Line
. Later the ship became a cruise ship for
Holland America Line
as
Ryndam
in 1951. Later she was transferred to Europe Canada Line for floating university cruises. Later renamed
Waterman
, and then back to
Ryndam
. Sold to Epirotiki in 1972 and rebuilt as
Atlas
. Sold in 1986 as floating casino in
Mexico
. Later renamed
Pride of Mississippi
,
Pride of Galveston
and
Copa Casino
. The ship finally sank in 2003 when she was en route to
Alang
for scrap.
|
|
Oceanos
|
(1976?1991)
|
She was built in 1953 as
Jean Laborde
. Later renamed
Pierre Lotti
for Efthymiadis Lines for
Patras
-
Igoumenitsa
-
Ancona
route. She later renamed as
Oceanos
for Epirotiki. The ship finally sank near
Coffee Bay
on 4 August 1991.
|
|
Hermes
|
(1976?2005)
|
She was built in 1956 as
Jugoslavia
. She was bought for Epirotiki and renamed
Hermes
. In her final years laid-up in
Piraeus
port and
Eleusis
bay. Finally scrapped in 2012 at Aliaga.
|
|
Pegasus
|
(1987?1991)
|
She was built as
Svea Corona
for
Silja Line
. Later the ship sold and rebuilt for Epirotiki and renamed
Pegasus
. Caught fire on 2 June 1991 and partially sank in
Venice
. Later, her remains sold to Strinzis Lines as
Ionian Express
and scrapped in 1995 at Aliaga.
|
|
Odysseus
|
(1988?2003)
|
She was built in 1961 as
Princessa Isabel
. Later renamed
Marco Polo
. The ship sold to Epirotiki in 1988 as
Odysseus
. In 1997 passed to the subsidiary of Epirotiki to Royal Olympic Cruises in 1997. After the defunction of Royal Olympic Cruises the ship passed to Hansa Kreuzfahten. The ship eventually scrapped in 2008 at Aliaga.
|
|
Triton
|
(1991?2004)
|
She was built in 1971 for
Cunard
line as
Cunard Adventurer
. The ship later renamed
Sunward II
for
NCL
. Later the ship renamed in 1991 as
Triton
for Epirotiki. Later the ship passed to Royal Olympic Cruises. Eventually the ship sold to
Louis Cruises
in 2004 and renamed
Coral
. The ship scrapped as
Cora
in 2013 at
Alang
.
|
|
Pallas Athena
|
(1992?1994)
|
She was built in 1951 as
Flandre
. Renamed
Carla Costa
after being acquired by
Costa Crociere
in 1967. Sold in 1992 to Epirotiki and renamed
Pallas Athena
. She was destroyed by fire in 1994.
|
|
Apollon
|
(1992?1995)
|
She was built as
Wakashio Maru
in 1973. Later renamed
Sunflower 7
. Sold to Epirotiki in 1992 and rebuilt as cruise ship. Sold to
Minoan Lines
in 1995 and renamed
Minoan Prince
. Finally renamed
Golden Prince
in 2002, and scrapped in 2014 at Aliaga.
|
|
Olympic
|
(1993?2003)
|
She was built in 1956 as
RMS
Empress of Canada
for
Canadian Pacific
. Later the ship was renamed
Mardi Gras
for
Carnival Cruise Line
. Sold to Epirotiki as
Olympic
in 1993, renamed
Star of Texas
in 1994 and then passed to Royal Olympic Cruises as
Apollon
in 1995. She was chartered to Direct Cruises as
Olympic 2004
between 1995 and 1997, and then reverted to
Apollon
between 1997 and 2003. She was scrapped in 2003 at
Alang
.
|
|
Olympic
|
(1995?2001)
|
She was built in 1956 as
RMS
Empress Of Britain
for
Canadian Pacific
. Later the ship sold to
Greek Line
and renamed
Queen Anna Maria
. The ship then sold to Epirotiki and renamed
Olympic
. Then the ship passed to Royal Olympic Cruises. The ship in 2001 sold to
Thomson Cruises
and renamed
Topaz
. The ship then sold to
Peace Boat
and scrapped in 2009.
|
|
World Renaissance
|
(1977?2004)
|
She was built as
Renaissance
in 1970. The ship chartered to
Costa Crociere
and then to Epirotiki as
World Renaissance
. The ship then passed to Royal Olympic Cruises. After the collapse of ROC sold and renamed
Grand Victoria
. Eventually the ship renamed
Maestro
and scrapped in 2010 at
Alang
.
|
|
Stella Solaris
|
(1997?2003)
|
She was built as
Cambodge
in 1953. Then passed to Sun Lines and then sold to Royal Olympic Cruises. Later laid up in
Eleusis
bay and scrapped as
S Solar
in 2004 at
Alang
.
|
|
Controversies
[
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]
Captain
Yiannis Avranas
and four of the crew of the
Oceanos
were found guilty of negligence after the ship sank in 1991,
[2]
for abandoning ship without broadcasting a mayday, alerting the passengers or properly assisting in their evacuation. Despite the judgement, their behaviour was defended by the then head of Epirotiki Line and Captain Avranas continued to command a vessel until his retirement.
[3]
References
[
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]
External links
[
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]