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
AUTUMN 2014
Shipping
Energy
Efficiency
Solutions Forum
HEC
Protecting
the Marine
Environment
for 20 Years
Interview
Antonis
Papadakis
Plus
Flows & Currents
Travel with Aegean
Aegean Oil—
15 Years
Επιστροφή
σε ευρώ με κάθε σας
συναλλαγή
Ενημερωθείτε αναλυτικά για το πρόγραμμα Επιστροφή στο
www.epistrofi-eurobank.gr.
editorial
Building a business, building a brand.
Like building a solid structure, one brick at time,
and establishing a firm foundation, building a solid
business requires having a vision, creating a plan, executing it with methodical steps, and being prepared to
adapt to evolving market conditions.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of Aegean Oil
in Greece. What began as a kernel of an idea—to create a new kind of Greek
energy company—has grown and expanded into one of the country’s market
leaders, with more than 500 service stations throughout Greece.
Not only has Aegean Oil expanded into a national network, it has been
instrumental in redefining the service station business in Greece—into a
professional, customer-oriented business model. At the center of the Aegean
approach have always been three pillars: service, quality and price. Since day
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 3,500DWT to 100,000
DWT, that transfers and delivers oil to our
clients throughout the world. All ships meet
ISM standards.
one 15 years ago when the first Aegean station opened in northern Greece until
today, when the latest station opened in Attica, service, quality and price have
served millions of Aegean customers.
It was not necessary to market the brand with massive advertising, PR,
coupons and vouchers. Instead, Aegean’s people built a brand, one driver at a
time, one fill up at a time, one satisfied customer at a time. Aegean delivered on
its vision, on its promise, both to itself and its customers: serve with pride and
respect the customer. The customer is the alpha and the omega.
At the same time, the Aegean brand represented a new national identity, a
new service philosophy, a new image. With more than 2500 people throughout
Greece serving drivers every day of the year, backed up by one of the most
professional executive teams in the industry, Aegean is preparing for its next 15
years—of growth, service, and sustainable development.
Bunkering
In Piraeus, Patras, Gibraltar, Amsterdam-Roterdam-Antwerb, Fujarah, Jamaica, Singapore,
Trinidad & Tobago, Portland-Falmouth, Vancouver, Montreal, Mexico, Tanger Med (Morocco), Canary Islands, Panama, Barcelona,
Algeciras, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York,
Norfolk, and Charleston, AEGEAN MARINE
PETROLEUM is a leader in providing the best
bunkering services available. AEGEAN MARINE
PETROLEUM is the market leader in bunkering.
Agency Services
Ships from around the world rely on AEGEAN AGENCY services at Piraeus, Gibraltar,
Fujairah, and Jamaica, from loading and discharging, to spare parts and supplies.
RAYMOND MATERA
Publisher
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.
AUTUMN 2014 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!
WHERE
ANY TIME
AEGEAN
MARINE
PETROLEUM
contents
8
HEC: The environmental shield
of our seas
CODE: 5169
Autumn 2014
Aegean News is published
quarterly by AEGEAN
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
14
9
Aegean Oil celebrates 15 years in the domestic
retail market
4 AEGEAN UPDATE
Aegean completes its GreenFleet
20INTERVIEW
Antonis Papadakis, Deputy CEO, Aegean Oil
8HELLENIC ENVIRONMENTAL
CENTER
HEC—Protecting the Marine Environment
for the Past 20 Years
9SHIPPING
Aegean Completes GreenFleet
10SHIPPING
Hellenic Lloyd's—
Energy Efficiency Solutions Forum
at Aegean Headquarters
12FLOWS AND CURRENTS
Trends and News in the Oil
and Energy Fields
14RETAIL
Aegean Oil—15 Years
22STATIONS OF THE MONTH
• Victoria Fountouki, Tychero, Soufli
• Theodoros Kanidis, Nea Vissa, Orestiada
• Ioannis Grigoriadis, Aspropyrgos
• Michael Demos, Neos Cosmos
26MARITIME TRADITION
The Aegean Sea and the Origins of Shipping—
Chapter VI: The Greek Navy during the First and
Second World Wars
27 TRAVEL WITH ΑEGEAN
Rhodes
28CHILDREN AND THE ENVIRONMENT
The Strangest Creatures of the Ocean
30AEGEAN COLLECTION
Step Out in Style
AUTUMN 2014 AEGEAN NEWS 3
A E G E A N
UPDA T E
CIMAC Meeting
in the UK
The participants
Simulex 2014
On June 7, 2014 the port Tanger Med and
neighboring ports welcomed Simulex 2014:
the 7th simulation exercise for the prevention
of accidental marine oil pollution.
The exercise was conducted in accordance
with the instructions of King Mohammed VI
in the framework of the implementation of
the national contingency plan in combating
an accidental marine oil pollution event, and
Μ/Τ Andros participates in Simulex 2014
took place under the coordination of the
Moroccan Ministry for the Environment with the participation of approximately150 civilian,
military and paramilitary agencies. The exercise, coinciding with the celebration of the World
Environment Day, was based on a scenario simulating an oil tanker carrying 60,000 tons of
crude oil, which suffered an engine explosion that damaged one of its tanks containing 2,000
tons of hydrocarbons. As a result, a significant amount of its cargo was released into the
ocean at the rate of 500 m3/h, threatening the Mediterranean coasts of Morocco.
The Royal Navy, the Royal Air Forces, the Royal Police, Department of Civil Protection, the
port authority of Tangier Med (TMPA), and a bunker barge of Aegean Marine Petroleum, the
M/T Andros, participated in this exercise according to the protocols of assistance to a vessel
in difficulty and combating oil pollution at sea and on land (POLMAR sea/land).
These operations focused on the deployment of significant resources by air, sea and land to
locate and confine polluted areas, protect the installations and the coastline of any oil spillage, as well as collect and process pollutants.
For the simulation the participants used peat, an organic biodegradable and harmless substance. They also replaced the dispersants and chemicals, which are usually used for the
treatment of pollution, with fresh water.
The commander of the port of Tanger Med, Khalid Samir, pointed out that this exercise aimed
to assess the level of coordination and effectiveness of all participating bodies. He added
that this exercise simulated a real situation, including putting in place a local command and
different national posts to coordinate the operation.
Simulex 2014 was a success due to the excellent reaction and intervention of all teams, making evident the quality of the response mechanism in the collection and treatment of polluted
water and the protection of harbors and coastlines against the risk of pollution.
4 AEGEAN NEWS AUTUMN 2014
Aegean Marine Petroleum has been
a member of the Lubricants Working
Group of the International Council on
Combustion Engines (CIMAC) since
2012. CIMAC held its second meeting
this year on September 16 in Derby,
UK. Aegean Marine Lubricants Global
Manager, Pavlos Ioannidis, attended
the meeting.
All International marine lubes industry
technical stakeholders were present.
Original equipment manufacturers
(OEMs), additive suppliers, and oil
companies had the opportunity to discuss in detail the current and future
technical developments regarding
the use of marine lubricants. They
also reviewed new environmental
legislation, the latest developments
in engines, the use of new types
of marine fuels like LNG, shipping
operation trends, and other factors
that affect the proper lubrication of
engines.
The CIMAC lubricants working group
offers an in-depth study and evaluation of these factors and their effect
on marine lubrication, examines the
need for introducing new lubricant
types, and sets general technical
guidelines concerning the proper and
efficient use of marine lubricants.
Aegean will proudly host the next
CIMAC meeting in April 2015 in its
headquarters in Piraeus.
John Keough, Nikolas Tavlarios, John Demopoulos, Richard Swann and Charles Davies
6th Annual Capital Link Forum
Fire Drill
On September 17, 2014, Nikolas Tavlarios, Aegean Marine Petroleum President, participated in a panel discussing the changing fuel oil market at the 6th
Annual Capital Link Commodities, Energy and Freight Forum held at the Metropolitan Club in New York City.
Aegean was proud to be among a wide range of sponsors, including leading
international banks, ship brokers, owners and commodity traders. John Demopoulos (Senior Markets Manager, Americas - Argus Media), Richard Swann
(Editorial Director, Americas Oil Markets - Platts) and Charles Davies (Vice
President, Commercial Services - World Fuel Services) also participated in the
discussion that covered the current state of the fuel oil market, the potential impact on pricing and supply from the upcoming IMO sulphur limit reduction to
0.10% on January 1, 2015, the impact of possible sanctions on Russia and Iran,
and a review of hedging strategies.
The panel concluded that while the future remains unknown, it is certain that
the environmental regulations imposed by the IMO (International Maritime
Organization) will continue to drive prices.
On July 25, 2014 a scheduled fire
drill exercise was successfully executed at the Aegean facilities in
Aspropyrgos.
All available personnel participated in
the exercise, which entailed a mock
fire incident in the LPG tanks.
Fire drills are a part of the regular
safety training of workers and are
designed to keep staff in readiness
for the timely and effective response
in the case of an emergency.
Presentation of the Aegean GreenFleet
in Asian Markets
While the M/T Green Planet was unloading
at the port of Pasir Guadang in Malaysia on
August 22, 2014, representatives of Wilmar, Raffles Ship Chartering Pte Ltd. visited
the ship in the presence of Captain Stamatis
Mendrinos, Marine Manager of Aegean; the
Captain of the vessel, Panagiotis Antonakos;
and the First Engineer, Panagiotis Koutoukakis. The charterers toured the ship and were
On the bridge of the ship: Kyaw Kyaw, Captain Mendrinos
very satisfied after this inspection. After
and Captain Win
this visit Captain Mendrinos visited Wilmar’s
headquarters in Singapore. During his visit he had the opportunity to discuss the company's
cooperation with Aegean and future prospects. As part of the GreenFleet promotion in the
Asian Markets, Captain Mendrinos also visited the Pacific Inter-Link SDN BHD charterers in
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Fire drill exercise at the Aegean facilities in
Aspropyrgos
AUTUMN 2014 AEGEAN NEWS 5
A E G E A N
UPDA T E
Aegean Quality Control
Laboratory Certified Against
ISO/IEC 17025:2005
The Aegean quality control laboratory in Aspropyrgos (Melco
Lab) has once again set the quality bar quite high.
Having already been awarded the certification against ISO
9001 in 2011, for the process of quality control of fuels and
lubricants, the quality control laboratory went even further to
achieve the accreditation certificate of the standard ISO/IEC
17025:2005.
The ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard contains all the requirements that testing laboratories must meet, if they wish to
demonstrate that they operate a quality system and have the
expertise and ability to generate valid results.
The Aegean quality control laboratory created, documented
and implemented a quality management system approved
by the board of the Hellenic Accreditation System (ESYD)
for laboratory tests. The laboratory has the responsibility to
maintain and continuously improve the system.
Obtaining this accreditation means that the lab is capable
of producing highly accurate results that meet the most demanding end user.
Also, because this standard is internationally recognized,
the results of accredited laboratories are widely accepted.
The use of this international standard is going to facilitate
the cooperation between laboratories and other bodies and
The ESYD Certificate
help in the exchange of information and expertise, and the
harmonization of standards and procedures.
Reliable measurements, in conjunction with the organization and structure level of the facilities, set the Aegean quality control laboratory among the leading laboratories in fuel analysis.
Celebration of Gibraltar National Day
Gibraltar National
Day 2014
Gibraltar celebrated its National Day on
September 11, 2014. The celebration
began with music and performances,
followed by a political rally presided
over by the Chief Minister Mr. Fabian
Picardo. Thousands of Gibraltarians
gathered, dressed in red and white,
and cheered on the Chief Minister,
members of the government and the
opposition, as well as a group of guest
parliamentarians from the UK, and
sung the Gibraltar national anthem.
During the celebrations, the newly
appointed Mayor of Gibraltar, Adolfo
Canepa, released 15,000 red and white
biodegradable balloons into the sky.
Bands and dance troupes entertained
the crowds well into the evening. The
celebration ended with a beautiful fireworks display.
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
Quality control laboratory
6 AEGEAN NEWS AUTUMN 2014
New Employees
The Sheikh with his guests
His Highness, the Sheikh Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi,
Ruler of Fujairah, George Moustakas, Station Manager, and
Sharief Habib Al-Awadhi, General Director of the Fujairah
Free Zone
An Iftar Celebration in Fujairah
On July 22, 2014, the Sheikh Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme
Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah, welcomed a delegation from the Fujairah Free Zone Authority lead by Sharief Habib AL-Awadhi, General Director
of Fujairah Free Zone, top local officials of Fujairah, dignitaries, Emiratis and
expatriate residents to celebrate Iftar together at Al Rumailah Palace in the
presence of the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, the
Crown Prince of Fujairah.
The Ramadan well-wishers acknowledged the Sheikh’s leadership and hard
work for the progress and welfare of Fujairah, the UAE, and the Arab and Islamic Nations.
George Moustakas represented Aegean and delivered a greeting and message
from Dimitris Melissanidis to Sheikh Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi.
World Coastal Cleanup Day 2014
The following employees have joined the
Aegean work force.
AEGEAN OIL
Ioannis Konstantinidis
Athanasios Topouzis
Elias Karanikis
Helen Siranidou
HEC
Christina Natsi
Nikolitsa Michaelidou
George Angelopoulos
Ioannis Efstathiadis
Christos Kriketos
OIL ONE
Polichronis Meimetis
Aristidis Kourepis
Konstantinos Kopalas
Michalis Sotiropoulos
AEGEAN BUNKERING SERVICES
Anastasia Gounela
Asimina Moutsatsou
Orestis Georgiopoulos
AEGEAN MARINE PETROLEUM
Kyriaki Kobala
Sales Inspector
Rewarded
Aegean employees participate in World Coastal Cleanup Day
The Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA) annually coordinates
World Coastal Cleanup Day in Greece. The purpose of this initiative is to increase awareness
regarding our shores. Hundreds of organizations and thousands of citizens from 80 countries
of the world participate in the World Coastal Cleanup Day internatioanally.
On September 30, 2014, Aegean participated in the World Coastal Cleanup Day in cooperation with the Port Authority of Elefsina. All available Aegean personnel proceeded in the
meticulous cleaning of the beach around the installation of Aspropyrgos.
As every year, Aegean, with the contribution of its employees, showed sensitivity in matters
of environmental consciousness.
The result of the operation was very satisfactory as the employees of Aegean collected approximately one ton of waste.
Aegean strongly supports such actions and urges us all to contribute to social efforts, especially in matters relating to the environment and, consequently, our future.
Stratos Kakalis, Aegean Sales
Inspector, received a 42-inch television in August 2014 from the
Commercial Director of Aegean Oil as
a reward for the achievement of set
targets in lubricant sales.
Mr. Kakalis receives his reward
AUTUMN 2014 AEGEAN NEWS 7
HELLENIC ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
HEC
Ports in which HEC provides services
Protecting the Marine Environment
for the Past 20 Years
ΒY PANAGIOTIS STAMATOGIANNIS | CHAIRMAN, HEC
Aegean has always been particularly sensitive when it comes to environmental issues and
constantly aims to deal with the undesirable possibility of pollution promptly and effectively.
For this reason, Aegean founded the Hellenic Environmental Center (HEC) in 1994, creating an
environmental shield of the seas.
A
egean operates in the field
of energy and more specifically in the international
transport and sale of oil products and
lubricants. Oil, as opposed to other
energy sources, has been established
as the main energy source.
Nevertheless, aside from its advantages, the use of oil, as well as lubricants, entail problems that require
special management to avoid environmental pollution.
One type—perhaps the most important—is the pollution of the seas by
oil residues, the risk of which can be
minimized by proper, orderly and environmentally conscious management.
HEC undertakes the selective transport and treatment of oil residues from
ships and land-based units (industrial,
shipbuilding) and also manages all liq-
8 AEGEAN NEWS AUTUMN 2014
uid residues generated by ships during
operation. The aim of the company is
to “harness” and annihilate oil pollutants. Since its establishment, HEC’s
basic operating principles have focused
on the completeness, sufficiency and
quality of provided services, consistency, a safe working environment, the
application of procedures anticipated
by the applicable national and international laws and the company’s proper
operating structure.
Strict adherence to these fundamental principles has resulted in HEC being active at most of the largest Greek
ports, while it has also laid the foundation for international prospects, since
demand for the company's services has
already surpassed the Greek border.
In order for HEC to carry out its
mission, the company has floating
spacers, where the collected residues
end up before they are disposed at
state refineries. In addition, HEC uses
a fleet of tankers and trucks (with all
accessory equipment) to collect and
transport oil residues.
HEC constantly invests in expertise, as well as material and technical infrastructure, and manages to
anticipate and even be ahead of the
constantly evolving requirements of
international environmental laws.
The company operates according
to the standards of LRQA ISO 9001 Quality Management System, LRQA
OHSAS 18001 - Occupational Health
and Safety System at Work and LRQA
ISO 14001 - Environmental Management System. In terms of safety, HEC
adheres to the requirements of the
ISPS Code.
SHIPP ING
Daesun Shipyard in Korea
H.D. Lee, Bank Lawyer; Ted Shin, Daesun Managing Director; Yannis Kokkalas, Owner
Representative; Alexandros Yannoulis, Site Manager; D.S.Kim, Liberia Flag Representative
Aegean Completes
GreenFleet
Aegean’s GreenFleet includes vessels that incorporate new technologies to reduce operating
costs and pollutants, while increasing overall performance in a wide number of areas. Aegean
News presents the latest GreenFleet news.
A
egean Shipping took delivery
of the M/T Green Hellas on
July 29, 2014, the fourth and
final vessel of its ambitious GreenFleet newbuild program.
M/T Green Hellas was delivered to
Aegean by Korea’s Daesun Shipyard.
The GreenFleet program commenced
in September 2012, when Aegean and
Daesun signed the initial contracts.
In 2014 Aegean took delivery of the
four vessels: M/T Green Planet (April),
M/T Green Sea (May), M/T Green Sky
(June), and M/T Green Hellas (July).
George Melissanidis, of Aegean
Shipping said, “We are thrilled to
have completed our GreenFleet program of newbuildings. These vessels
offer significant advantages to both
Aegean and its customers, who gain
considerable savings. Of course the
real winner is our environment, which
benefits from lower harmful emissions
and greater economies in fuel use. It is
our hope that one day our entire fleet
is a GreenFleet—an objective of our
company for the foreseeable future.
We thank Daesun for their outstanding work and cooperation as we also
thank all the people who have contributed to this project, Lloyd’s & GL staff,
ASM personnel, officers and crew.”
Ted Shinn, Managing Director &
CMO at Daesun Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Ltd. in a note to Mr.
Melissanidis, wrote, “I would like to
pay my tribute of praise to all members of your esteemed company and
superintendents for their fine efforts,
day and night, that led to the completion of M/T Green Hellas. It is always
with pleasure to recall that you have
been constantly cooperative to our
shipyard and that the relationship was
more than that of simply between a
buyer and a builder.”
Yannis Kokkalas (ASM Newbuilding Supervisor) and Alexander Yannoulis (ADK Site Manager) worked
in close cooperation with the shipyard
during the construction of the four
vessels to ensure the best outcome for
the GreenFleet.
M/T Green Hellas departed on her
first voyage in August of 2014 following
the completion of all required preparations, receipt of supplies, crew familiarization, final testing, and required
inspections and checks to confirm
proper operation.
Wishing all the best to the vessel
and our crew, always in smooth seas
and on safe voyages!
AUTUMN 2014 AEGEAN NEWS 9
SH I PPI NG
Hellenic Lloyd's—
Energy Efficiency Solutions Forum
at Aegean Headquarters
Hellenic Lloyd's SA cooperates with major manufacturers and the National Technical University
of Athens (NTUA) to provide the Greek shipping community with a holistic approach to energy
efficiency solutions.
O
n September 25, 2014 Hellenic Lloyd's SA held a Forum entitled Energy Efficiency Solutions - A Holistic Approach,
which Aegean Shipping Management
hosted in the Aegean headquarters
auditorium in Piraeus.
The forum brought together representatives of various sectors of the
shipping industry and provided a holistic approach to optimizing efficiency from the perspective of owners and
managing companies, manufacturers,
classification societies, and academia.
Dr. Anthi Miliou, in the role of moderator, opened the Forum welcoming
10 AEGEAN NEWS AUTUMN 2014
the attendees and introducing the distinguished speakers of the panel.
Opening the first session of presentations, Ioannis Kokkalas, Aegean’s GreenFleet Site Manager, presented the current
energy efficiency challenges faced by
ship operators. He also informed the
delegates about the operation of ships in
the Aegean GreenFleet project.
Representatives from major manufacturers were also invited to share
their expertise. Michael Jeppesen,
Promotion Manager, Marine Low
Speed & Morten Rasch, Sales Manager, Propellers and Aft-ship Systems
of MAN Diesel & Turbo spoke on ef-
ficient system integration with MDT.
Dionysios Antonopoulos, Wartsila
2-stroke Technical Service Manager,
presented his views on efficient propulsion and auxiliary power generation for modern merchant vessels.
During the first session of the Forum Sephardim Koblenz, MAN Diesel
& Turbo SE Promotion Manager gave
a presentation on turbocharger solutions for outstanding system efficiencies, followed by Anders Soerensen,
Dan Marine Europe General Manager,
with his speech on system optimization, main engine and economizer.
Paul Mc Stay, Lloyd's Register Ship
Dr. Anthi Miliou, Hellenic Lloyd's S.A.
Ioannis Kokkalas, Aegean GreenFleet
Anders Soerensen, DAN Marine Europe
Michael Jeppesen, MAN Diesel & Turbo
Morten Rasch, MAN Diesel & Turbo
Dionysios Antonopoulos, Wartsila
Sephardim Koblenz, MAN Diesel & Turbo
Performance Group Business Manager,
examined the driving forces in the field
of energy efficiency for the owners
and managing companies and spoke
about existing solutions in this area by
presenting the challenges, application
parameters and benefits of each.
Closing the second part of the presentations, NTUA Professor Nikolaos
Kyrtatos provided an analysis of the
energy efficiency measures and concluded with a comparison of different
measures for existing ships.
The event captured the attention of
the maritime community, as over 100
delegates attended the Forum. The
presentations followed a constructive
dialogue between the participants.
“Shipping is facing huge challenges
in having to deal with uncertainty in a
rapidly changing commercial and regulatory landscape. The choices owners and operators make will require
a systematic and evidence-based approach to ensure assets and businesses
remain competitive and sustainable
into the future," said Mr. Mc Stay.
Dr. Miliou commented: “In today’s
complex environment with all the different energy efficiency solutions available and the evolving regulatory
framework, it is of great importance to
Paul Mc Stay, Lloyd's Register
keep an open dialogue among the shipping industry stakeholders. There is no
doubt that energy efficiency is one of
the most commonly discussed topics
nowadays. We all hear about energy
efficiency but it means different things
to different people and there is no ‘one
size fits all’ solution. This Forum provided a fertile ground for key stakeholders to address the different aspects
of energy efficiency from their respective angle. We support such events as
opportunities to exchange experience
and technical insight as part of a drive
to enhance development and innovation within the shipping industry.”
AUTUMN 2014 AEGEAN NEWS 11
FLOWS AND CURRENTS
Whales:
The Engineers
of Oceans
An Unusual Design
According to recent studies, whales
have a strong and positive impact
on the function of oceans and the
health of commercial fisheries.
Until now scientists thought that
her one of the most powerful.
The Blue Marlin is an impressive ship
that, paradoxically, sails while being
half-sunk. Her unusual design allows
the Blue Marlin to carry loads so heavy
that other boats cannot. The shape and
the way she sails make the Blue Marlin
one of the strangest boats afloat and the
gigantic loads she is able to carry make
whales were too few, compared to
the size of the oceans, to cause any
change. Nevertheless, biologist Joe
Roman of the University of Vermont
and his colleagues now show that
the reduction in the number of
whales amounts to 66% and even
up to 90% in some cases and may
have changed the structure and
function of oceans. Commercial
whaling has dramatically reduced
the biomass and abundance of large
whales. Reassuringly, however,
there is hope because the situation
is reversible. The populations of
whales are starting to recover as we
begin to see the important role they
play on the ocean environment. The
continuing recovery in the number
of large whales may help to buffer
marine ecosystems from destabilizing stresses.
As a long-lived species, whales
enhance the predictability and stability of marine ecosystems. They
are basically the engineers of the
ecosystem of the oceans. They eat
a lot of fish and are themselves
prey to other predators such as
killer whales, and so distribute
nutrients through water. The role
of these huge mammals is particularly important, as climate change
threatens ecosystems.
12 AEGEAN NEWS AUTUMN 2014
The Largest Cargo Ship to Ever Come
to Greece in Piraeus
The largest cargo ship to ever come to Greece docked in Piraeus this past August. The MSC
London is 399 meters long, with a gross tonnage of 165,000 tons and capacity to carry up
to 16,500 containers.
The welcoming committee was led by the Minister of Shipping and the Aegean, Miltiadis
Varvitsiotis, along with Piraeus Port Authority President, George Anomeritis; the General Secretary of Ports and Port Policy, Athanasios Christopoulos; the Chief of the Greek Coast Guard,
Admiral Athanasios Athanasopoulos; and the head of MSC Greece, Christina Theodorika.
Mr. Varvitsiotis said: "I am delighted to welcome one of the largest ships in the world carrying containers. The MSC London has a carrying capacity of about 16,500 containers and
is a modern marvel of shipbuilding. The port [Piraeus] now has the infrastructure to accommodate the largest container ships. It has features that no other port of the Mediterranean
has." And added: "Our desire is to make Piraeus one of the main ports of the Mediterranean.
The development of the country comes through the ports, by increasing their capabilities
through an international orientation. And to achieve this we need serious, meaningful international collaborations such as the partnership we have developed with MSC, which is our
number one customer."
Tankers—
Leading Trends
There are five countries that have
prevailed in terms of their tanker fleet
during the last decade. Could the scenery be changing? The following are the
most prevalent recent trends.
"Aegean: Birth of an Archipelagos"
The Eugenides Foundation hosted the exhibition "Aegean: Birth of an Archipelagos" on September 3 - October 23, 2014. The exhibition was held under the auspices of the Ministry of
Education, the Ministry of Shipping and the Aegean, the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the
Ministry of Tourism and the Greek National Commission for UNESCO, in collaboration with
the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest, the Universities of the Aegean,
Crete and Thessaloniki and the Eugenides Foundation. The exhibition was produced and
edited by Tetragon.
”Aegean: Birth of an Archipelagos" included rare exhibits, numerous photographs and audiovisual representations that chronicle the evolution of the Aegean sea and the processes that
occurred throughout the area’s millions of years of history to create the impressive array of
Greek islands and coasts, the local flora and fauna and the unique life forms in the Archipelagos, as well the phenomena that inspired man to create myths and art.
Source: Eugenides Foundation
New Device Promises to Reduce
Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Ships
Ships use a diesel fuel that is high in sulfur and other pollutants. In 2010 the
IMO (International Maritime Organization, IMO) put in place strict regulations
on ship emissions to reduce this source of air pollution. The objective of the
EU-funded project for an Innovative After Treatment System for Marine Diesel
Engine Emission Control (DEECON) entails the construction of a cleaning unit
that will remove pollutants from diesel exhaust. This device will be retrofitted
to existing ships and will be installed in all newbuildings. The device consists
of several modules, such as an Electrostatic Seawater Scrubber (ESWS). The
design and construction of these modules have advanced significantly and tests
show that the device could achieve removal of gaseous pollutants by up to 93%.
The system will be tested in a diesel engine at Maritime University of Gdynia
in Poland. A successful outcome will have major positive implications for the
shipping industry and the economy of the European Union.
The Greek Empire of the Seas
It is not surprising, given the historical
supremacy of Greek shipowners, the
fact that the Greek-owned tanker fleet
is the largest in the world. In early
2014, it amounted to 116.5m dwt,
having grown at an average annual
rate of 6.7% from 2005, representing
about 25% of the world fleet.
The Growth of the Chinese Fleet
The Chinese have also been expanding their fleet rapidly between 2005
and 2014, at an average annual rate
of 13.2%. They stood at 34.7m dwt
at the beginning of 2014, confirming
China's position as the third largest
country in tankers.
The Decline of the Japanese Fleet
The Japanese fleet has been in second
place for a long time with 41.3m dwt.
In early 2014, however, the Japaneseowned tanker fleet was reduced by 5.1
dwt compared to 2011, due to sales
the Japanese shipowners made, which
average 1.7 million dwt in net sales
in 2012 and 2013. Greek shipowners
have bought a large percentage of the
tankers sold by the Japanese.
A New World Order?
The Greeks and the Chinese dominate
in newbuilding orders, which represent
10% and 26% of their fleet, respectively. According to current trends,
China will soon surpass Japan and
Norway will no longer have a place
in the top five, giving its place to
Singapore.
AUTUMN 2014 AEGEAN NEWS 13
R ET A I L
15
YEARS
AEGEAN OIL
A
Iakovos Melissanidis
egean Oil was founded in 1995 and obtained a
class A fuel marketing authorization in 1999.
Immediately after that, Iakovos Melissanidis
settled in Alexandroupolis and began building personal
relationships with local service station owners. Mr. Melissanids gradually developed the Aegean Oil network,
which came to number about 150 stations in Northern
Greece after just the first two years, while preparing a
business plan for nationwide network expansion under
the Aegean brand. Within a few years the company
developed a network throughout the Greek territory,
which now amounts to 530 service stations, making
Aegean one of the fastest developing Greek companies
in the market of fuels and lubricants.
14 AEGEAN NEWS AUTUMN 2014
AUTUMN 2014 AEGEAN NEWS 15
R ET A I L
The Backbone of Aegean Oil
Aegean Oil personnel at the Alexandroupolis facilities
Aegean Oil personnel at the Aspropyrgos facilities
Aegean Oil owns modern facilities in
Alexandroupolis, in northern Greece.
The Alexandroupolis facilities serve
customers in Eastern Macedonia and
Thrace, and are accessible by ship, rail
and road. In southern Greece, the Aspropyrgos facilities serve Aegean Oil
customers. The facilities at Aspropyrgos are connected by pipeline to the
Aspropyrgos refineries and are also
accessible by ship and road. In addition to these loading points, the company maintains offices and conducts
loadings at the Hellenic Petroleum
(HELPE) refineries and facilities in
Aspropyrgos, Thessaloniki, Elefsina,
Rhodes, and Crete, as well as the Motor Oil facilities in Agii Theodoroi,
Korinthia.
Aegean Oil delivers fuel to the
Greek market with a privately-owned
fleet of 25 trucks, equipped with the
latest technology. Partner and leased
trucks are used to supplement delivery
needs where necessary.
Customers First
Personnel at the Aegean Oil branch in Thessaloniki
The rapid expansion of the Aegean Oil
network of service stations is based on
the following four pillars:
• Quality of products and services
• Competitive prices
• Anthropocentric policy
• Impressive corporate image
Providing quality products and
services is an established and continu-
ing objective of Aegean Oil and provides the company’s strongest bond
with consumers. Competitive prices
are also always a key concern.
Engineered for Top Performance
In an effort to eliminate the potential
of contamination that could affect the
quality of fuel, Aegean Oil has established, in addition to other measures,
a fuel quality control system with
the use of a privately-owned mobile
workstation, staffed with qualified
personnel. This initiative is designed
to check the spefications of fuel, making sure that the fuel sold at Aegean
service stations has not been contaminated and is of excellent quality.
Aegean Oil conducts regular maintenance and repairs of the service
station network through its technical
management and external partners.
The technical department of the
retail sector of Aegean Oil is responsible for coordinating a wide range of
processes, from the construction of
the service station, to its maintenance,
with main objective the safe and trouble-free operation of each one, paying
particular attention to the preventive
maintenance program.
For the maintenance of buildings
and electromechanical equipment,
Aegean Oil personnel conducts regular checks and works in conjunction
with the helpdesk. This system ensures trouble shooting in the shortest
Aegean Oil Milestones
1/3/95
8/9/95
5/28/99
6/22/99
ESTABLISHMENT
OF AEGEAN OIL
ACQUISITION OF CLASS E
MARINE FUEL DUTY-FREE
MARKETING AUTHORIZATION
ACQUISITION OF FACILITIES
IN ALEXANDROUPOLIS
ESTABLISHMENT OF BRANCH
IN ALEXANDROUPOLIS
16 AEGEAN NEWS AUTUMN 2014
Aegean Oil personnel at the company headquarters with Iakovos Melissanids
possible time and creates an efficient
mechanism for the upkeep of fuel
in excellent condition. The efficacy
and response time of the cooperating
teams is recorded, processed and evaluated, so that the maintenance services provided to the service station
are constantly improving.
Intelligent Infrastucture
For the construction of service stations, Aegean Oil collaborates with the
largest manufacturers of service stations in Greece. The process combines
and integrates the latest technologies
and requires cooperation and coordination between people of different
sectors. To achieve the best result for
the construction and installation of
the equipment of each service station,
Aegean Oil uses only the latest technologies and is certified by international quality assurance standards.
Aegean Oil views maintaining
high-quality technical services in a
dynamic landscape, with ever-increasing technological requirements, as a
challenge. The company’s response
to this challenge has always been the
continuing education and scientific
training of the staff, so that they are
able to deal with any technical issue
that might come up in the best possible way, and always in accordance with
all applicable rules and regulations.
A Commitment to Quality
As part of providing quality products
and services, Aegean Oil has introduced a full range of new technology
and top quality lubricants that cover
every possible need.
The commitment to quality is
expressed by the customer-oriented
integrated management system of the
company, which entails all the organizational and operational processes of
the company and is certified against
the Quality Management System
Standard ISO 9001:2008.
The Aegean Oil customer-oriented
policy has resulted in the development of healthy relationships with
partners that operate the service stations, and is indeed the secret of the
company in the development of the
Aegean Oil network. Furthermore,
the admittedly impeccable and attentive design and color combinations
of the service stations, each of which
has its own symbolism, reinforces
the impressive corporate identity that
Aegean Oil is determined to upkeep.
Aegean Oil, along with its executives and associates, stays faithful
to the vision and values upon which
the rapid development and establishment of the company was based,
closely follows the trends of the market, addresses the challenges of our
times, and proceeds with optimism
into the future.
9/15/99
10/4/99
1/28/00
7/8/04
ACQUISITION OF CLASS A
FUEL MARKETING
AUTHORIZATION
FIRST RETAIL
FUEL SALE
ESTABLISHMENT OF BRANCH
IN THESSALONIKI
CERTIFICATION BY
LLOYD'S AGAINST ISO
14001 - ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
AUTUMN 2014 AEGEAN NEWS 17
R ET A I L
Corporate Social Responsibility
Aegean Oil truck delivers heating oil donation to the elementary school of Metaxades, Evros
As part of the company’s corporate
social responsibility initiative, Aegean
Oil regularly donates to various organizations and institutions of the public and private sectors, contributing to
the promotion of social values.
In this context, and in response to
the demands of the difficult economic
conditions in the Greek society, last
year Aegean Oil donated heating oil to
200 schools across the country, with a
focus on areas near the borders.
Last year Aegean Oil
donated heating oil
to 200 schools across
the country
Thursday December 19, 2013
Dear Mr. Melissanidis,
The students and teachers of the elementary school in Perithorio thank you very much for your
valuable donation to our school.
We consider it extremely important that, in the difficult times we live in, there are actual human
beings behind corporations, with an increased sense of generosity and solidarity.
We wish you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year in good health.
Please find attached a photo of our young students.
The Principal
Kyrmeli Euthalia
Appreciation letter and photograph from the pupils of the elementary school in Perithorio, Serres
for the donation of heating oil to their school
At the same time, the main objective of the company is to respect and
care for the environment and for this
purpose Aegean Oil has developed
an environmental management system in full compliance with current
Greek and European environmental
legislation to minimize the environmental impact of its operations. This
system has been certified against the
international standard ISO 14001:
2004 (Environmental Management
System) and is part of the integrated
management system of the company.
Aegean Oil Milestones
7/16/04
12/30/05
11/6/07
5/8/09
INTEGRATION IN THE
ASSOCIATION OF OIL
MARKETING COMPANIES
DIRECTORY (SEEPE)
CERTIFICATION BY LLOYD'S
AGAINST ISO 9001 - QUALITY
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
ENTRY IN THE
LUBRICANTS MARKET
ESTABLISHMENT OF BRANCH
IN HERAKLION, CRETE
18 AEGEAN NEWS AUTUMN 2014
The Aegean Oil personnel at the Motorist Service Station in Almyros, Volos
Self-Operated Service Stations
Aegean’s main business is oriented
toward cooperation with gas station
operators, who are responsible for the
operation of the service stations.
In 2011 Aegean Oil proceeded with
the establishment and operation of a
small network of self-operated service
stations. Aegean’s decision to operate
a small number of stations as CO-CO
businesses (Company Owned - Company Operated), aimed at boosting
cash flow and contributed to the
implementation of trade policy in
specific geographical areas, and in no
way interfered with the main policy to
manage its stations via partner station
operators.
Temeteron Ltd., a subsidiary of
Aegean Oil, is responsible for the operation and management of 15 corporate
self-operated service stations, including one Motorist Service Station on the
Athens-Thessaloniki national road, at
Almiros, Volos, and one more on the
Kalamata-Athens national road.
In addition, Aegean Oil, in the context of strategic cooperation with Marinopoulos, took over management of
eight additional service stations. These
stations are located in the area of the
Carrefour-Marinopoulos supermarkets
in Athens, Agrinio, Argos, Drama, Ioannina, Katerini, Larissa, and Trikala.
The entire Aegean service network
is known for its smart and clean
appearance and the courtesy of its
employees, and its main objective
remains to offer services under the
highest quality standards, as Aegean
did when it was originally established.
Motorist Service Stations
In recent years we have been witness
to a change in the Greek landscape, in
terms of the main and national road
system, due to the construction of
new highways and the upgrading of
existing roads.
Looking to the future, Aegean Oil
participated in tenders to develop
motorist service stations alongside
all under concession highways and
in 2011 was assigned the construction, operation and maintenance of
the largest motorist service station in
the country: the one located at the
270klm of the Athens-Thessaloniki
national road, precisely at half distance between the two cities.
The motorist ser vice station,
which has already become a reference
point, was built in cooperation with
Goody's-Flocafe, offering travelers
high quality products and services.
At the same time, Aegean Oil undertook the development of a motorist service station in Arfara, Messinia,
on the new modern highway that connects the town of Kalamata with the
rest of Greece. This service station has
been in operation since 2012.
The motorist service stations are
built with the latest technology and
offer a modern shopping experience
to the traveler, while protecting the
environment with state-of-the-art
equipment.
2009
5/3/10
11/25/11
8/3/12
ACQUISITION OF 20
ADDITIONAL PRIVATELY
OWNED TANKER TRUCKS
ESTABLISHMENT OF BRANCH
IN RHODES
OPERATION OF MOTORIST
SERVICE STATION AT ALMYROS
OPERATION OF MOTORIST
SERVICE STATION AT ARFARA
AUTUMN 2014 AEGEAN NEWS 19
I N T ER VI EW
Antonis Papadakis
Deputy CEO, Aegean Oil
From the position of Deputy Managing Director for the last two years, Antonis Papadakis is the
leader of a team that has the responsibility to operate and further develop Aegean Oil. Mr. Papadakis
spoke to Aegean News about the company and the Greek domestic market.
Please tell us about Aegean Oil.
Aegean Oil is a Greek company based in Piraeus with large
privately-owned storage and handling facilities in Aspropyrgos and Alexandroupolis.
The company started its commercial activity in the retail
market in 1999 and came to be today one of the strongest
brand names in the industry of fuels and lubricants with
an extremely dynamic growth rate. Currently a network
of 530 service stations operates under the Aegean brand
name, covering the entire country.
The annual turnover of Aegean Oil exceeds one billion
Euro and its contribution to the Greek economy is great.
Each year the company pays in taxes an amount that approximately equals half of its annual turnover.
Antonis Papadakis
How many people are employed at Aegean Oil?
The company employs a total of 2,500 employees as office,
installation and service station personnel.
Aegean Oil has always faithfully implemented a humanistic philosophy focusing on proven, long-lasting collaborations and giving employees the opportunity of a stable,
creative and evolutionary career.
It should be noted that despite the Greek economic cri-
The customer-centered approach of Aegean Oil is firmly focused on providing
quality products and services combined with the most competitive market prices
for fuel and lubricants
20 AEGEAN NEWS AUTUMN 2014
sis, Aegean Oil has not reduced the number of employees,
making it a haven of occupational stability in the difficult
economic and social conditions that all Greeks have been
experiencing in recent years.
What is Aegean Oil’s trade policy and strategy in this negative economic climate?
The customer-centered approach of Aegean Oil is firmly
focused on providing quality products and services, combined with the most competitive market prices for fuel and
lubricants.
It is our daily concern that the service stations that
operate under the Aegean brand serve the thousands of
customers who trust us with consistency, courtesy, friendliness and respect.
Given the harsh environment of the Greek domestic
market, Aegean Oil has tried to sustain the number of service stations while reducing operational costs. To this end
Aegean Oil has developed 23 self-operated service stations,
which are currently managed by a subsidiary of Aegean
Oil, Temeteron Ltd., along with the service stations that
are based within the premises of Carrefour-Marinopoulos
super markets.
In addition, the company is anticipating that after many
years of economic downturn the Greek market will show
the first signs of stabilization. That is why Aegean Oil is
preparing a business plan that entails the reasonable expansion of its network, particularly on Greek islands and
along motorways, and the release of new products.
What Is your opinion on the subject of excise duty on heating oil?
By increasing the excise duty and equalizing the price of
heating oil with diesel, the government attempted to combat smuggling, but this move also had an impact on the
heating oil market due to increased costs, in conjunction
with reduced consumer demand.
Recently, officials announced a small reduction of excise
duty and that was a step in the right direction.
At this point the government needs to show courage
and significantly reduce the excise duty, while at the
same time expanding the number of heating allowance
beneficiaries, to stimulate the heating oil market and give
our fellow citizens, who otherwise would not be able to
purchase heating oil, the opportunity to do so. The Greek
government must also show determination to fully and
effectively implement and check for the installation of the
input-output systems, for the market to recover and for
the protection of the consumers.
New Product
by Aegean Oil
The Aegean Oil research and development department,
in collaboration with one of the largest manufacturers
of additives to the world, has developed a new powerful fuel for diesel engines, which contains the most
technologically advanced additives and is available at
selected Aegean service stations of the network Aegean under the name D-Force.
The new D-Force fuel for cars with a diesel engine:
• increases the cetane number up to three units, which
means improved ignition quality, better cold start
and more acceleration
• reduces fuel consumption by up to 3%
• cleans injectors, gives optimum spraying capabilities
and keeps the entire engine clean
• reduces engine noise
• provides substantial protection against corrosion
and increases engine life
What is, generally, the situation in the Greek fuel retail
market?
The economic crisis imposed some major corrections,
such as the reduction in the number of service stations by
about 30%, compared with the number of stations in operation before the crisis.
Given the limited size of the Greek market, in relation
to the number of active fuel marketing companies, I believe that in the future there will be more adjustments in
this direction.
However, although the internal fuel market suffered
great precipitation the last few years due to the economic
crisis, it is starting to show signs of stabilizing this year.
This makes us optimistic that the next year will probably
be a year of recovery, unless of course some other dramatic
event occurs in our country.
AUTUMN 2014 AEGEAN NEWS 21
STATIONS OF THE MONTH
The “First-Foot”
Victoria Fountouki, Tychero, Soufli
AEGEAN'S
FIRST SERVICE
STATIONS
Soufli is situated on the eastern slope of the Prophitis Ilias hill in northern Greece. The
municipality of Soufli is located in the center of the Evros Prefecture, 65 km north of
Alexandroupoli and 50 km southwest of Orestiada. Mrs. Fountouki’s service station has been in
the Aegean Network for 15 years.
M
rs. Fountouki told Aegean
News with great pride that
her service station, which
is located in the border village of
Tychero in Soufli, is the first Aegean
station in Greece.
You are one of the first service stations
Aegean opened in Greece. How did you
make the decision to choose this new
supplier back in 1999? When exactly
and how did your collaboration with
Aegean start?
Our cooperation with Aegean began
15 years ago. Iakovos Melissanidis
came personally and we talked. At
that time we were working with another supplier, but after our talk with
Mr. Melissanidis we were persuaded
to come onboard. We are the first
Aegean service station in Greece. We
were their “first-footers”!
How has your cooperation with Aegean
been over the last 15 years?
Very good. I am very pleased. At the
beginning we were talking with Mr.
Melissanidis very often. Since then
Aegean expanded their network and
opened many more service stations,
so now we are in close contact with
the inspector in our area. Aegean has
always helped me in difficult times.
And they are always looking ahead.
A good recent example is the new input-output system.
22 AEGEAN NEWS AUTUMN 2014
Mrs. Fountouki’s service station
We are the first Aegean service station in Greece. We were
their “first-footers”!
Tell us about your service station.
Our service station is located in the village of Tychero, which has about 3000
inhabitants. Our clients are predominantly locals from our village and the
neighboring village that has no service
station. We sell car fuel and heating
oil. Soon I will retire and transfer the
service station to my two sons.
How has your relationship with your
customers been these 15 years?
Our customers are happy with Aegean
products and the services we offer. We
help them where and when we can
during the difficulties of our times.
Is there a lot of competition in the area?
There are two Aegean stations in the
wider area. There used to be three. And
there is one more station that operates
under another brand, but as far as I
know they are more expensive. So, for
the most part we are all buying Aegean
fuel here! We try to keep our prices low,
with the help of Aegean, and always in
conjunction with the other Aegean service station, to keep our clientele.
The Sheikh of Orestiada
Theodoros Kanidis, Nea Vissa, Orestiada
AEGEAN'S
FIRST SERVICE
STATIONS
Orestiada is the newest and northernmost city of Greece. It is a modern city and a major
agricultural and commercial center linked by rail and road. Mr. Kanidis’ service station is one of
the first Aegean service stations in Greece.
T
he service station of Theodoros Kanidis is located at the
entrance of Nea Vissa in Orestiada, very close to the border with
Turkey. We spoke with Theodoros’
father, Evangelos Kanidis.
You started working with Aegean 15
years ago. How many years have you
been in the fuel business Mr. Kanidis?
My father opened this service station
in 1974. We have been working with
Aegean since the beginning, in 1999.
We are one of the first stations Aegean
opened in Greece!
What made you trust Aegean when the
company was making its first steps?
My personal acquaintance with Iakovos
Melissanidis made all the difference. I
am one of the first people Mr. Melissanidis met in Evros and we made a deal.
How has the cooperation been with your
supplier since then?
The cooperation with Aegean has always been very good. I've never had
any complaints. We communicate on a
personal and human level.
Talk to us about your business, Mr.
Kanidis.
Recently I transferred the service station business to my son and we employ
a staff of one. Along with the service
station, we have a tire shop, a heating
oil dealer installation at a short distance
Mr. Kanidis’ service station
There are two other service stations in the area, but we have
more customers. Why, you may ask? Better public relations!
of the village and three new trucks for
the transport of heating oil, which is a
main part of our work.
How is your relationship with your customers?
The business is going very well. There
are two other service stations in the
area, but we have more customers.
Why, you may ask? Better public relations! We try to always accommodate
people during their difficulties and in
return they also support us with their
love. Everyone in the area knows me
and can tell you about me. If you ask
around, people will tell you that they
call me the “Sheikh”!
We are the number one service
station in northern Evros in terms of
consumption. We have won the public
tender of the municipality of Orestiada and we exclusively supply them
with car fuel and heating oil.
Have you ever had any complaints from
Aegean? Has there been a customer to
ever express a complaint?
We have never had any complaints.
We have been with Aegean all these
years because their fuel is of the best
quality. Even during the winter, when
things get tough, we manage. From
here, all the way to Orestiada, everyone knows and respects us.
AUTUMN 2014 AEGEAN NEWS 23
ΠΡΑΤHΡΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΜHΝΑ
AEGEAN'S
A Reliable Partner
Ioannis Grigoriadis, Aspropyrgos
MOST RECENT
SERVICE
STATIONS
The gas station of Mr. Grigoriadis is one of the most recently added to the retail network of
Aegean. It is located in Aspropyrgos, on NATO Avenue.
M
r. Grigoriadis shared with
us his impressions as one
of the more recent service
stations in the Aegean network.
Talk to us about your service station.
How long have you been working in
this sector?
The service station is located in the
industrial area of Aspropyrgos. We
sell car fuel, heating oil and lubricants.
I took over as manager this past August. The service station, however,
since it is a family business, has been
operating since 1987.
Mr. Grigoriadis’ service station
This year Aegean celebrates its 15-year
anniversary since the first service
station opened. What do think of your
decision to join the Aegean network on
this 15-year mark?
As I mentioned the service station is a
family business operating in this area
for many years. But we have always
been looking for a humane company
and a reliable partner. This is what
we have found at Aegean. Combined
of course with high quality fuel at
competitive prices, because in this
area there are mainly companies and
these relationships are built on a solid
foundation of trust.
So, is competition harsh in the area
you operate your service station?
Competition is indeed great. But since
this is an industrial area, the bulk of
our clients are professionals. The Ae-
24 AEGEAN NEWS AUTUMN 2014
We have always been looking for a humane company and a
reliable partner. This is what we have found at Aegean.
gean brand gives us an advantage and
the prices are competitive.
How did your customers react to the
change in supplier, in other words, this
decision of yours to join the Aegean
network?
Aegean is now well known after 15
years of being active in this field.
There has been no trouble in these
years and it is considered one of the
most trusted brands. We knew all this
before we decided to work with Aegean. Our customers also knew the Aegean brand and trust us because they
believe that we sell quality products.
To name an example, there is one
customer who fills up his car exclusively with 100 unleaded. He has said
repeatedly that he only visits Aegean
service stations for his refills because
he thinks theirs is the best product in
this category in the market.
Did Aegean help you in your first steps?
Aegean helps us a great deal. We were
looking for a partner. Aegean immediately accepted us and showed us
confidence from the first day. So we
had no reason not to trust them.
I would like at this point to thank
the inspector, the Aegean technical
and sales teams, and Iakovos Melissanidis personally.
AEGEAN'S
Upward Trajectory
Michael Demos & Co., Neos Cosmos
MOST RECENT
SERVICE
STATIONS
Mr. Demos’ service station recently joined the Aegean retail network. It is located in the
municipality of Neos Cosmos in the prefecture of Attica.
W
e spoke with Michael’s father, Epaminondas Demos, on the first steps of
their company in the Aegean network
of service stations.
How long have you been in the fuel
business Mr. Demos?
I have been selling fuel since 1972.
As you can understand, I have been
in the business for a long time. This
service station in Neos Cosmos first
opened four years ago and has been
in an upward trajectory ever since. I
believe we have one of the top service
stations in the area. We have worked
with many suppliers over the years.
We have been working with Aegean
for eight months now. Aegean is by
far the best company we have ever
worked with.
Talk to us about the products and services you offer at your service station.
We sell car fuel and lubricants and also run a car-wash. We offer complete
24-hour service. Whatever a motorist
may need we can accommodate them.
There is a lot of competition in the area. But that does not stop us. We have
taken our exams and we have passed!
Aegean has developed a well-established and reliable network of service
stations over the past 15 years. How
did you decide to join the Aegean network at this point of time and what do
you think of your decision?
Mr. Demos’ service station
People know the Aegean brand and they accepted the
change we made with love. They embraced Aegean. Nobody
was dissatisfied. In fact, many of our customers told us that
it was the right move.
This is a very positive step for us. Aegean is a company that is constantly
moving up with good partners and
excellent service. It has everything!
How did your customers react to the
change in supplier at your service station?
People know the Aegean brand and
they accepted the change we made
with love. They embraced Aegean.
Nobody was dissatisfied. In fact, many of our customers told us that it was
the right move. Our customers have a
positive attitude because they find the
whole package at Aegean: quality and
good prices. If you ask me, I think that
I was wasting time before. I should
have made this change earlier.
Do you feel that Aegean has helped
you in your first steps?
They have helped us immensely in all
aspects of our work. I have no words
to describe their warmth. My son, my
wife and I run this service station as a
family business. Just like Aegean is a
family business.
AUTUMN 2014 AEGEAN NEWS 25
MARITIME TRADITION
The Aegean Sea and the Origins of Shipping
CHAPTER VI
The Greek Navy and the First
and Second World Wars
Archaeological findings, myths, and the writings of historians, suggest that we can trace the
origins of the shipbuilding art to ancient Greece and the Aegean Archipelagos.
WWI
For most of WWI, Greece remained
neutral. In 1917, however, the government of Eleftherios Venizelos decided
to join the war on the side of the allies.
By the end of the global conflict, in
October 1918, Turkey capitulated and
Greece was on the winning side.
During many enterprises of WWI
as well as the Balkan Wars, the armored cruiser Georgios Averof was
the flagship of the Greek fleet. The
ship gave the Greek navy technological superiority. The Averof sailed to
Constantinople and raised the Greek
flag after the end of WWI. After the
signing of peace treaties, the Averof,
The armored cruiser Lemnos
26 AEGEAN NEWS AUTUMN 2014
along with the rest of the Greek fleet,
transferred troops to Ionia. However,
the situation in Asia Minor deteriorated quickly resulting in the Asia
Minor Catastrophe of 1922.
WWII
The territorial integrity and independence of Greece was threatened again
during WWII, as Italy and Germany
aimed at domination.
Before Mussolini demanded the
surrender of Greece, he ordered, in a
symbolic gesture, that his fleet torpedo the armored cruiser Elli at Tinos
on August 15, the greatest Greek Orthodox Holiday. The Greeks refused
to surrender and the Greek fleet led a
strong resistance. The numerical and
technological superiority of the Germans and Italians made the idea of
victory seem like an impossible feat.
The subsequent German invasion
inflicted serious harm on the Greek
fleet. After the epic battle of Crete
in May 1941 and the occupation of
the island by the Germans, the Greek
Navy did not surrender. Instead, the
Greek Fleet sailed united to Alexan-
dria, Egypt, where they continued
the war on the side of the allies, not
only until the liberation of Greece
in October 1944, but until the final
victory in Europe and the complete
collapse of Germany in May of 1945.
The heroism of the Greeks in naval battles and the accomplishments
of legendary ships such as the Olga,
Adrias and Katsonis are great achievements of the Greek Navy during
WWII. The Greek Navy participated
with two corvettes and four cargo
ships of the Merchant Navy in the
great invasion of Normandy on June
6,1944. Moreover, the Agios Spyridon
(Captain: Georgios Samothrakis), the
Georgios P. (Captain: Dimitrios Parisis), the America (Captain: Spyridon
Theofilatos) and the Hellas (Captain:
Georgios Trilivas), as well as eight
other Greek warships participated in
the invasion of southern France on
August 15, 1944.
The Greek Merchant Marine mourned the loss of over 2,000 men during
WWII and 60% of the fleet’s ships.
The Navy lost 28 combatant ships and
700 men.
TRAVEL WITH AEGEAN
Rhodes
The beauty of the Island of Rhodes lies in its contradictions.
Thousands of Greek and foreign travelers visit the Island of the
Sun every year for the picturesque little villages and castleguarded towns of the past, the bronzed Aegean landscapes and
green valleys.
R
hodes guards the crossroads of two major Mediterranean routes,
between the Aegean archipelagos and the coasts of Asia Minor, and
has therefore known many conquerors and their civilizations.
Mythology
According to Pindarus, when Zeus prevailed over the Giants he decided to
divide the land among the Olympian gods. The Sun, however, was left out
and said that the new land that would emerge from the sea the next morning would be his. The next morning a marvelous island emerged: Rhodes.
Name
The origin of the name Rhodes is primarily associated with the rose, the
sacred flower of the sun. It is also known as “The Island of Knights,” “The
Island of the Sun,” and “The Emerald Island.”
Must See
Medieval Town of Rhodes In 1988 the Medieval Town of Rhodes was designated a World
Heritage City, undoubtedly because of the
many architectural treasures from various historic periods. The dominant periods are that of
the Order of the Knights of St. John and that
of the Ottomans.
Lindos The modern town and the spectacular beach overlooks the ancient Acropolis
of Lindos, a natural fortification used by the
ancient inhabitants of the area, and later by
the Romans, the Byzantines, the Knights, and
the Turks.
Valley of the Butterflies This rare habitat is
the summer retreat of the Panaxia Quadripunctaria butterfly. Thousands of visitors and
researchers come here to enjoy the scenery
and study this unique phenomenon.
Prassonisi The exotic Prassonisi with the
beautiful lighthouse is located at the southernmost tip of the island, about 92 km from
the town and 40 km from Lindos. During the
summer, when water levels are low, Prassonisi
is an extension of Rhodes and an ideal destination for windsurfers.
Acropolis of Rhodes Guests will have the opportunity to tour the restored ancient stadium
of Diagoras that also offers a beautiful view
of the sunset. Next to the stadium is a small
marble theater that hosts musical and theatrical performances. At the top of the hill stand
columns of the temple of Apollo, and in the
northern part of the Acropolis still lie some
fragments of the temples of Athena and Zeus.
Anthony Quinn Beach Located between the
beaches of Faliraki and Ladiko, in a small
cove, this beautiful natural beach is named by
the locals after the 1961 film "The Guns of
Navarone" honoring the famous actor.
Aegean stations
AUTUMN 2014 AEGEAN NEWS 27
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 Strangest Creatures
of the Ocean
The oceans and seas host a huge number of different species of marine mammals
and fish. Thousands of these creatures live deep under the sea surface. 17,650
species live at depths greater than 200 meters, whereas 5722 species live at
depths of over 1000 meters, where there is no light!
The following creatures live deep in the oceans and seas and certainly make the
top-ten list of the strangest sea creatures:
Pink-eyed Goby
Barreleye
Also called the “spook fish,” this strange
creature has a transparent head that resembles an airplane cockpit!
28 AEGEAN NEWS AUTUMN 2014
Viperfish
The viperfish usually reaches 30 centimeters in length, but it can grow to be
two meters long! This is a predator that
lives at depths of 500 to 2500 meters
below the water surface.
Tiny and cute, this little fish has pink
eyes and bright yellow internal organs
that are perfectly visible through its
transparent body.
I BECOME INFORMED - I INFORM OTHERS - I ACT
Anglerfish
This strange fish has an extension of
its spinal column that extends in front
of the mouth and produces blue-green
light through a chemical process known
as “bioluminescence.” The angelfish uses this light as a fishing lure, as it waves
it back and forth to attract its prey.
Piglet Squid
This little piggy of the sea may be just
the size of a small avocado and never
exceed 10 centimeters in length but it
lives in deep ocean waters.
Spider Crab
Vampire Squid
The spider crab is a species of crab that
lives in marine waters around Japan. It
is definitely the biggest crab out there,
as it reaches 3.8 meters in length and
weighs up to 19 kilograms!
True to its name, the vampire squid
seems to be wearing a cape and moves
through the water like a bat. What certainly makes it more interesting is that
it uses his flaps to mesmerize its prey
with light production.
Black Swallower
This scary creature can swallow fish up
to 10 times its size!
Ocean Sunfish
The ocean sunfish is the largest fish
with a bony skeleton on the planet. Its
weight can reach one ton.
Glass Octopus
Huge and transparent, this beautiful
octopus looks like a real work of art.
AUTUMN 2014 AEGEAN NEWS 29
AEGEAN
COLLECTION
Step out in style
with the Aegean Collection
Aegean and renowned designer Robbi di Kappa have
teamed up to design a brand new look for today! The
Aegean sport line, with its nautical influence, is perfect
for stepping out in style, in the city, by the sea, or on
country walks—for him and for her.
Bundle up or travel light in polos and t-shirts.
At home, relax in luxurious bathrobes.
And stash your gear in versatile and stylish Aegean bags.
Discover the new Aegean look at the Aegean Shop or
online at www.aegeaneshop.com
Aegean Shop
at the Aegean Headquarters—
10 Akti Kondyli, 18545, Piraeus, Greece
30 AEGEAN NEWS AUTUMN 2014
AUTUMN 2014 AEGEAN NEWS 31
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, and Charleston. 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
with the code of safe management ISM and SOLAS and are in complete compliance with
MARPOL regulations.
Aegean continually adds to its fleet of ships, which includes large vessels as well as
smaller capacity vessels. Its fleet transports oil cargoes worldwide on behalf of major
oil companies, commercial clients, and Aegean customers.
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
32 AEGEAN NEWS AUTUMN 2014