Greek cruiseship pioneer, Andreas Potamianos, dies at 88

The legendary Greek cruiseship owner, Andreas Potamianos, has passed away at the age of 88. Potamianos put Greece on the cruising map and his motley fleet of vessels were well known for always flying the Greek flag.

Potamianos was born into a prominent Cephalonian shipping dynasty and built up Epirotiki with his father Tasos. The company made history in 1954, when its tiny 2,300-gt passenger cargo ship, Semiramis, was converted into Greece’s first all-out cruiseship, paving the way for other cruiseship owners to follow.

Greek shipping minister Yiannis Plakiotakis described Potamianos as “one of the pioneering founders of modern Greek shipping.

“His name, and that of Epirotiki, were a byword for the Greek cruise industry for more than 50 years,” Plakiotakis said.