1 1921-2021 100 Years DNV Hellas
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4 Once upon a time, when DNV set sail in Piraeus …
5 In 2021, DNV proudly celebrated 100 years of operations in Greece – 100 years of sailing together with our customers, employees and business partners. And 100 years of helping to build the maritime landscape both locally and globally from the country of Greece.
6 Special thanks to: Our Customers for providing us valuable information (By alphabetical Order): Andriaki, Arcadia, Central Mare, Danaos, Diana, Element, Eurobulk, Euronav, GoldenPort, Halkidon, Latsco, Naftomar, Navarone, Nomikos, OceanGold Tankers Inc., Prime, Stamco. Mr George M. Foustanos and the Online Museum Greek Shipping Miracle for providing visual material. Mrs Petra Autermann Head of Regional Communications & Brand, DNV Maritime. Ms Smaragda Samara for the initial idea for a DNV anniversary book. Copyright © DNV Hellas, 2024 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Editor in Chief & Publication Manager: Joanna Boulntoumi Senior Regional Communications Manager, SE Europe, Middle East & Africa, DNV Maritime Editor & Proofreader: Georgina Vranaki Designed by: Domniki Zioga
7 Contents Setting the course in Greece 8 Our Top Management’s 100 Years 14 Our history through a timeline 18 Our history through photos 22 Our history through the stories of retirees 48 Our history through memories 54 Our Events for the 100-year anniversary celebrations 70 Our history through our customers’ stories 90
8 Setting the course in Greece
9 The Greek market is a very important one in shipping. Which is why, starting in 1921, and for more than a century since, we have been forging the Greek maritime industry’s landscape. With our customers and partners, we have been sharing the same values towards safety at sea and the protection of human life and the environment.
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12 Chief Surveyor in Piraeus – one of three worldwide There are three Chief Surveyors at DNV – and one of them is based in Piraeus. They enable smoother processes for complex technical decisions, for Greek-owned ships worldwide. Their decisions are binding. Global network of Greekspeaking surveyors Outside Greece, the Greek-speaking surveyors’ network is now operating from offices located in Miami, Antwerp, Dubai, Singapore and Shanghai, and is available to serve Greek-owned ships surveyed in their areas.
13 Regional Management Team (as by June 2024) Ioannis Chiotopoulos Senior Vice President, Regional Manager Željko Šimic Vice President, Deputy Regional Manager (in alphabetical order) Panagiotis Antonopoulos Senior Principal HR & FI Advisor Joanna Boulntoumi Senior Regional Communications Manager Ian Edwards Area Manager Middle East & Africa Marina Georgantzi Regional Credit Manager Loizos Isaias Vice President, Head of Maritime Service Centre Leonidas Karystios Regional Business Development & Gas Segment Director Karl Mathiesen Finance Manager Aris Lazaridis Regional Quality, Production Support & HSE Manager Natassa Matzaridi Regional HR Manager Bijali Nair Regional Offshore Class Manager - SEE, Africa, Middle East & India Andreas Pagalos Advisor/Senior Vice President Vassia Souri PA to SVP & Regional Manager | Team Leader George Teriakidis Area Manager East Mediterranean & Black Sea
14 Our Top Management’s 100 years’ anniversary messages Welcome speeches delivered during the 100 years VIP dinner held on June 1st, 2022.
15 Thank you for joining us tonight to celebrate 100 years of DNV in Greece. I am mindful that 100 years in Greek history is just the blink of an eye. This is the birthplace of democracy, some 25 centuries ago, along with the roots of science, medicine, art and literature that today touches and brightens every corner of the world. The 100 years we are celebrating tonight might be small in the great sweep of history, but it is a very meaningful century for the Greek ship-owning community and for DNV since the establishment of the first representative office of Det Norske Veritas in Piraeus in August 1921. There have been many firsts along the way. The first vessel to enter Det Norske Veritas class was the tanker Spiros built in 1928. And the first newbuilding for a Greek owner was the carrier Spyros A. Lemos built in Sweden in 1928. From those humble first steps we have come a long way to the point where DNV now certifies more than 800 Greek-owned ships. And in the last 10 years, DNV has occupied first or second position in the Greek newbuild market. That has only happened through our commitment to the modernization of the Greek fleet and by working closely with our Greek customers in the preparation of specifications, and by providing enhanced approval and supervision services in newbuild projects. Since 2015, this has been given extra momentum through the establishment of Greece as a third home market for DNV. That has allowed enhanced support to our Greek customers in fleet-in-service phase by providing approval and advice locally through our local Service Centre, local DATE and local Chief Surveyor. Opening the Gas Carrier Centre of Excellence in Piraeus two years ago was a natural development, given that the majority of Greek LNG carriers are certified by DNV – building on the fact that the first LNG carriers for Greek owners were built to DNV class, as was the first LPG carrier with LPG as fuel. For those of you who follow the annual DNV Energy Transition Outlook, you will know that we foresee gas playing a very important role in the global energy mix in the next 30 years. While DNV has been investing in Greece over the last 10 years, we were very aware of the painful economic crisis that gripped this country in the wake of the financial crisis. But the country today is very different to what it was 10 years ago. The economy is recovering, Greece has paid off its IMF debt ahead of schedule, and there are new investments and jobs in new industries like digital and clean tech. But we need to ask ourselves where this leaves maritime. Greece might lead the world measured by sheer size of fleet, but it is vital that we all continue to invest in young Greek men and women and make a career in maritime as attractive as possible. This is something we often discuss in the Technical Committee – which, by the way, will be celebrating its 50th anniversary next year. I firmly believe that at the heart of DNV’s contribution to the bright future of Greek shipping is our willingness to invest in young people and in skills development, particularly in key technical areas like digitalization and new fuels. This has been part of our ethos here in Piraeus for quite some time. I think of some of the outstanding graduates of our training programmes that we hired in the 1970s, among them Ioannis Kourmatzis, who went on to play a great leadership role for the global company, and in the 1980s Nikolaos Boussounis, who left this world too soon, and whom we remember with great fondness and respect. As indeed we do to all those colleagues who devoted their whole careers to building DNV and contributing to the great success that is the modern Greek fleet. Honoured guests and colleagues, I am going to end my introductory remarks there. I thank the Greek shipping community on behalf of DNV for the faith you have shown in us for the last 100 years. I pay tribute to colleagues past and those present under the excellent leadership of Ioannis Chiotopoulos. I have no doubt that they are laying the groundwork for an even more exciting and rewarding century ahead. Thank you. Remi Eriksen DNV Group CEO Your Excellencies, Honoured Guests, and Colleagues, Welcome speech of DNV Group CEO, Mr Remi Remi Eriksen, at the 100-year anniversary VIP dinner held on 1 June 2022.
16 Good evening, Honourable Guests. To echo Remi’s words, 100 years is barely a paragraph in the annals of Greek history, but I am incredibly proud of the work of all our Greek colleagues and partners, past and present, who have contributed to the great success that is the modern Greek fleet. Greece, with its rich history comprising epoch-defining thinkers like Plato and Aristotle; maths and engineering geniuses like Pythagoras and Archimedes; and not least its unrivalled maritime heritage. And today, you, the shipowners of Greece, hold in your hands the baton of that proud heritage. You continue to build on that history with your appetite for progress, prosperity and ensuring the world’s logistic chains keep working – even when circumstances make it nearly impossible. Your efforts ensure that life-vital commodities, grain, manufacturing parts and products reach consumers in all four corners of the world. In this context, I pay tribute to our seafarers, not least the many and competent Greeks, for the plight they have endured during the pandemic. Our sailors – men and women from multiple nationalities – withstood the hardships of COVID-19 while the more fortunate of us enjoyed the comfort of our home offices. This appetite, this stamina, this heritage will be needed once again to conquer the challenges of global warming. So that we can say to our children and grandchildren and future generations that we did our part. That we challenged status quo. That we brought the world and shipping into a better future, “planted trees in whose shade we’ll never sit”, to borrow an old Greek proverb. We can manage this together. By mobilizing our heritage together with even more innovation and collaboration. I like to refer to this as the maritime renaissance. A maritime renaissance inspired by ancient mythology. Like Odysseus and his legendary crew of seafarers who used cunning and cooperation to defeat cyclopes, sirens, six-headed monsters and much else. Or Pegasus and Bellerophon, who together conspired to slay the deadly Chimera, showing that overwhelming force can be neutralized with teamwork. Collaboration between Greeks and Norwegians goes back millennia and is etched on the gravestones of Viking traders with inscriptions referring to “Grikkfari” (traveller to Greece) and “Grikkhafnir” (Greek harbours). Our sea and our history tie us together. On behalf of DNV, I thank the Greek shipping community for the faith you have shown us over the last century. The next 100 years and the challenges it will bring will be defined not by the challenges themselves, but by our ability to overcome them. Our continued collaboration, innovation and joint industry leadership will be key to doing this successfully. I will now hand you over to Ioannis, our excellent Senior Vice President and Regional Manager. Thank you for listening. Welcome speech of DNV Maritime CEO, Mr Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, at the 100-year anniversary VIP dinner held on 1 June 2022. Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen DNV Maritime CEO
17 Welcome to our 100th anniversary event. Anniversaries are opportunities to recollect memories of years gone by, treasure them, and embrace the coming years with enthusiasm and determination. A century is, without a doubt, a long time. For DNV Hellas, in these 100 years, we have been successful in achieving our main goal of forging strong relationships with all of you. For more than 100 years, we have been sailing together, the leading maritime companies both locally and globally, and together we have managed to safeguard life, property and the environment. People forged these relations, and people are our most important asset. It is a matter of great pride to see our company and our people growing together, adopting a good value system and work ethics. Past, present and future meet today, ladies and gentlemen. FOCUSING ON THE PAST For a 100 years now, DNV Hellas has always been a mosaic of personal stories, dreams and aspirations. Trust and empathy have always been the glue that holds these relationships together. So let’s celebrate the past and give an applause to the representatives who are with us today: Ioannis, Digenis – thank you from my heart for being with us tonight. COMING TO THE PRESENT For me, as the head of this region, it’s a great honour to fulfil my engagement and promise to the people who entrusted me with this role – and who are among us tonight. And that role is to be an inspiring and effective leader. One who is responsible for growing the business and creating opportunities that empower people to excel in their professional – and hopefully – personal lives. However, the most important thing for me is that I am part of a company that feels like a family, reminding me of my own and especially of my late grandfather, who was my role model as a child. He was a small shipowner, but most importantly: he cared about his people, he dared to invest in trade and the open seas and he shared his fortune with people in need. It is no surprise that I am standing today in front of you now representing a company of the same exact values. FINALLY, FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE Acknowledging that education is the fuel of this success, I am proud to announce our collaboration with the National Technical University of Athens today. Every year, DNV Hellas will grant scholarships to the Top 3 students of the School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. Ladies and gentlemen, more anniversaries and more achievements are yet to come our way. Let this celebration of 100 years be the springboard which gives us the power to keep aspiring for more. Thank you and enjoy the rest of the evening. Ioannis Chiotopoulos Senior Vice President & Regional Manager South East Europe, Middle East & Africa. Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Guests, Welcome speech of DNV Senior Vice President & Regional Manager South East Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mr Ioannis Chiotopoulos, at the 100-year anniversary VIP dinner held on 1 June 2022.
18 Our history through a timeline
19 The Norwegian Classification Society Det Norske Veritas (DNV) was founded in 1864 with headquarters in Christiania - today’s Oslo- after a joint agreement between insurers of six different clubs. Initially ten Surveyors manned the team of the Classification Society in Oslo; the first office outside Norway was established in London in 1873. From 1870 until the end of the 1st World War in 1918, the Norwegian fleet classed by DNV suffered drastic changes. With the first Norwegian ships appearing in the East Mediterranean, on 6 October 1919 an application was submitted to the central offices of DNV in Oslo by I. Chandris for representation of DNV in Greece. Due to the small number of ships with DNV in the area of the East Mediterranean the decision was postponed. But demand increased gradually and within two years, on 16 August 1921, the Board of Directors at the Head Office of DNV decided to create a representative office of DNV in Greece and appoint a Danish shipbroker, W. Wellis in charge of Piraeus operations. And that was the beginning of a wonderful journey that lasts for over a century! And below they are its milestones…
20 1919 1921 1924 1973 1974- 1976 1975 1958 1968 1971 1975 1977 1980-1981 First application for representation of Det Norske Veritas in Greece by I. Chandris. The decision was postponed for a later stage First Greek Committee of Det Norske Veritas is established and the Chairman of the Committee is Costas M. Lemos The first ship to Det Norske Veritas class, the tanker “Spiros”, built in 1928 “Piraeus becomes regional office for Greece and Cyprus” On 16 August 1921, a representation office was established in Piraeus. Danish shipbroker W. Wellis as Det Norske Veritas representative Four Greek graduates from the two-year educational programme in Oslo are hired: Christos Barakos, Alexandros Kyriazis, Nikos Liapis and Ioannis Kourmatzis The first newbuilding for a Greek owner is built to Det Norske Veritas class, in Uddevalla, Sweden: the 55,000 dwt carrier “SPYROS A. LEMOS” Germanischer Lloyd opens an exclusive office in Piraeus. Head of office: Nikos Sefertzis Tasos Hatzifotiou becomes the first Greek Det Norske Veritas representative “Det Norske Veritas supervises for the first time the construction of “FRENDO UNITED”, a general cargo, open-hatch ship at United Shipyards in Perama”. Pireaus joins the network of exclusive offices of the classification society. Hans Viig becomes the first surveyor Det Norske Veritas hires six more Greek surveyors – among them is N. Boussounis Our history through a timeline
21 1996 1998 1999 2012 / December 2013 / September 2014 2000 2002 2008 2010 2015 2018 2020 2021 Establishment of Det Norske Veritas Maritime Academy The merger of Det Norske Veritas and Germanischer Lloyd is announced Establishment of the Maritime Service Centre in Greece Greece as third home market – DATE centre is set up in Piraeus For the first time, a Greek employee at Det Norske Veritas is promoted to the level of Vice President A new company is formed: DNV GL Germanischer Lloyd Piraeus office becomes the Regional Office Piraeus Regional Office now controls Middle East and Africa, to expand its initial geographical reach The first time a Greek employee at Det Norske Veritas becomes Regional Manager Passing of N. Boussounis Germanischer Lloyd Academy Hellas begins operations; Det Norske Veritas establishes an R&D department in Piraeus Establishment of Gas Carrier Excellence Centre in Piraeus I. Kourmatzis becomes the first Greek employee to become Det Norske Veritas’ COO Name of the company changes to DNV Our history through a timeline
22 Our history through photos
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24 37o 18ʼ 30ʼʼ N, 023o 44The first ships built on behalf of Greek shipowners with DNV class
25 The bulk carrier SPYROS A. LEMOS was built in 1968 in Sweden Uddevallavarvet A/B shipyyard for Compania Naviera Garoufalia S.A. (Lemos & Pateras Group Ltd.). ʼ 06ʼʼE
26 The ore/oil carrier MARY R. KOCH was built on 1975 in the Uljanik Brodogradiliste shipyards for Valeco Tankers Corporation (Group Valma-Ikonomaki).
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28 The bulk carrier CARLOVA was built in 1975 in the shipyard Burmeister & Wain’s Skibsbyggeri A/S, Denmark, for Index Maritime Corporation (Igglessis Group).
29 The bulk carrier SAMJOHN MARINER was built in 1975 in shipyard Burmeister & Wain’s Skibsbyggeri A/S, Denmark, for the Agios Nikolas Shipping Corporation (Samonas Group).
30 The SEASPEED DANA cargo ships, SEASPEED DORA of 1976 and SEASPEED DIMA of 1977 were manufactured in Norway’s Trosvik Veksted shipyards A/S for Seaspeed Ferry Co., Ltd. (Marship Corporation Group).
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32 37o 18ʼ 30ʼʼ N
33 The tankers MESSINIAKI AKTI, MESSINIAKI ANATOLI, were made in 1977 at the shipyards of Finland Oy Wärtsilä AB., Turku. N, 023o 44ʼ 06ʼʼE
34 The tanker THALASSINI DOXA was built in 1977 in the swedish shipyard AB. Gotaverken for Victory Transocean Shipping S.A. (Lemos & Pateras Group).
35 The cargo ship MANOLIS L. was built in 1980 at the shipyard VEB Schiffswerft “Neptum”, East Germany, for Dunnet Bay Shipping Co. (Lelakis Group)
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37 The tankers MESSINIAKI FISIS, MESSINIAKI FRONTIS at the shipyard AB Gotaverken in Sweden, in 1977. They were built for the Michail A. Karageorgis S.A. group. In 1978 the tanker MESSINIAKI AVGI was built at the Finnish shipyard Oy Wärtsilä AB., Perno, for the same Group WL0 WL1
38 Athens September 1983 Greek Committee Annual Meetings
39 Oslo September 1984 100 Years of DNV Hellas
40 London 1988
41 our moments together
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43100 Years of DNV Hellas
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45100 Years of DNV Hellas
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47100 Years of DNV Hellas
48 Our history through the stories of our retirees
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50 Helen Olympiou