Posidonia 2016 - Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc.
Transcription
Posidonia 2016 - Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc.
Aegean News T H E Q U A R T E R L Y M A G A Z I N E O F A E G E A N SUMMER 2016 Posidonia 2016 The Aegean Party Aegean Global Market Trends Interview Nikolaos Hondos General Manager Aegean Bunkering Services Inc. Plus Flows & Currents Travel with Aegean Posidonia 2016 Athens Hosts the Global Shipping Community editorial Facing the future. Posidonia 2016, the world’s most impressive maritime event, held in Athens since 1969, brought together the global shipping and maritime community for one week. During that time, all stakeholders were able to meet, explore current market trends, forge new partnerships, and assess the industry as it moves forward. Aegean, as it has for 20 years, participated in Posidonia 2016 with two stateof-the-art exhibition spaces. Top Aegean executives were able to represent the wide-ranging activities of the company–shipping, bunkering, environmental and port facility services, lubricants and petroleum products, and agency—to visitors from around the globe. For public and private stakeholders, Posidonia provided an opportunity to discuss key policy developments facing the shipping and maritime industry. Prime Ministers, ministers, ambassadors, commissioners, and other government decision makers met the private sector within a common framework to address legislation, environmental concerns, safety issues, and new technologies that will impact the industry for years to come. Aegean, as always, was attuned to the discussions, exchanges, developments and decisions that can, in many ways, determine the next stages of its growth and expansion program. Future success stems from past performance and current preparations. Being prepared for tomorrow ensures that decisions are made with market insight, industry understanding, and a competitive edge. Posidonia 2016 proved to be a key tool that allows Aegean to keep its finger on the pulse of the industry and formulate its strategy—local, regional, and global. Aegean Core Activities Retail AEGEAN OIL has established a gas station network throughout Greece, and is one of the fastest growing companies in the retail market. AEGEAN’S gasoline market share in Greece is 8%. Shipping AEGEAN SHIPPING manages a fleet of tankers, ranging from 28.610 to 50,926 DWT, that transfers and delivers oil to our clients throughout the world. All ships meet ISM standards. The Company’s new GreenFleet (http://www.greenfleet.gr) incorporates the latest technologies to ensure reduced operating costs and reduced emissions, while increasing overall performance. All ships are certified by ISM, ISPS and MLC as well as with ISO 9001, 14001, 18001 and 50001. AEGEAN SHIPPING is additionally certified with ISO 22301. Bunkering AEGEAN MARINE PETROLEUM is a leader in providing the best bunkering services available in Piraeus, Patras, Gibraltar, Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp, Fujarah, Jamaica, Singapore, Trinidad & Tobago, Portland-Falmouth, Vancouver, Montreal, Mexico, Tanger Med (Morocco), Canary Islands, Panama, Barcelona, Algeciras, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Norfolk, Charleston, Los Angeles and Long Beach, Hamburg, the Gulf of Mexico, St. Petersburg, South Africa and Brazil. AEGEAN MARINE PETROLEUM is the market leader in bunkering. Agency Services RAYMOND MATERA Publisher 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. Lubricants AEGEAN OIL produces and markets high performance lubricants for vehicles and industrial use, under the AEGEAN brand. AEGEAN MARINE PETROLEUM trades and supplies lubricants for the marine market under the ALFA brand. SUMMER 2016 AEGEAN NEWS 1 You're on the move. So are we. Get Aegean News wherever you are. Aegean News iPad version is now available at the app store. Enhanced with video, more photos, and interactive content! WHERE ANY TIME AEGEAN MARINE PETROLEUM contents 20 Aegean hosted one of the most impressive parties of the entire Posidonia week CODE: 5169 Summer 2016 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 10 Aegean presented its D-Force diesel fuel at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Thessaloniki 4 AEGEAN UPDATE 9PONTIAN NEWS Events Honoring the Pontian and Armenian Genocide 10RETAIL Aegean Presents D-Force Fuel to Northern Greece Service Station Owners 11HELLENIC ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER • Presentation at the Port of Alexandroupolis • Distinction of HEC at the European Business Awards for the Environment 12AEGEAN GLOBAL Up-to-Date Market Trends from Around the World by Executives from Aegean’s Global Bunker Stations Network 14FLOWS AND CURRENTS Trends and News in the Oil and Energy Fields 24 Nikolaos Hondos, General Manager of Aegean Bunkering Services Inc., discusses Aegean’s position as the world’s largest independent physical supplier 16 POSIDONIA 2016 • The World’s Most Prestigious Maritime Event • Aegean at Posidonia 2016 • The Aegean Party 24THE AEGEAN INTERVIEW Nikolaos Hondos, General Manager of Aegean Bunkering Services Inc. 26STATIONS OF THE MONTH • Kostas Pagratis, Corfu • Athanassios Raptis, Thessaloniki 28MARITIME TRADITION The Traditional Boat Association of Greece 29TRAVEL WITH ΑEGEAN Milos 28CHILDREN AND THE ENVIRONMENT The Lost Kingdom of Cleopatra SUMMER 2016 AEGEAN NEWS 3 A E G E A N UPDA T E Fedon Tomazos, Cass Technava; Sarah Yang, Cass Technava; Spyros Fokas, Aegean; Dong Yezong, General Manager Cosco Shipyard; George Melissanidis; Swem Sun, Commercial Director of Cosco Headquarters Aegean Shipping Inks Deal for Four Aframax Newbuildings with Cosco Shipyard in China Aegean Shipping Management signed a contract with Cosco Zhoushan shipyard to build four next-generation Aframax carriers with delivery in 2018. This marks the latest NB contract since the company delivered four MR sisters from Daesun Shipbuilding in Korea in 2014. These eco-tankers, coined the Green Fleet, also employ advanced engineering and design components, allowing for significantly lower fuel consumption and huge minimization of emissions. The new Aframaxes will fly the same ‘Greenfleet’ Banner as their smaller fleet sisters, and continue to follow suit with the strategy of the company to reduce their carbon footprint. Chairman George Melissanidis said, “I am pleased to announce the signing of four NB 113,000 dwt crude carriers at Cosco Zhoushan shipyard. In this time of such global uncertainty and a dormant NB market, we are renewing our commitment to international shipping.“ Mr. Melissanidis continued, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Cosco for their support and look forward to cementing this relationship between our two companies, which are so closely aligned in terms of quality and commitment to first class service.” Aegean Shipping invests in cutting-edge technology, enhancing its human resources and managing its fleet above and beyond international standards. Pontian Music and Dance During Halftime at NBA Game The NBA honored Greek heritage day in a unique way. Traditional Pontian music and dance was the highlight of the halftime show at the Philadelphia 76ers game against the New York Knicks. The proud Pontian “Akritai” of Philadelphia, who descend from Koromilia, Kilkis, danced to the tune of Daouli and Lyra players as they circled the 76ers emblem on center court. 4 AEGEAN NEWS SUMMER 2016 Hamburg Port 827th Anniversary “Cast off and Ahoy!” Aegean and HEC celebrate the world’s greatest port festival, the 827th birthday of the Hamburg harbor. More than 1 million visitors annually attend the maritime people’s festival of superlatives, inspired by the hundreds of ships from all over the world in the heart of Hamburg. The port of Hamburg and its birthday have a long tradition; since Kaiser Friedrich Barbarossa granted citizens of Hamburg a charter on May 7, 1189, which guaranteed exemption from duty for ships on the river Elbe from the city to the North Sea, the Port Birthday has grown and is a popular attraction for visitors from near and far. Special highlights include a four-kilometer long ‘Harbor Mile’ promenade, the ship parades, a unique tugboat ballet and breathtaking fireworks. Aegean and HEC enjoyed a vibrant event with good business friends and partners onboard the Commodore. Aegean and HEC executives onboard the Commodore Another Successful Search & Rescue Operation for M/T Rizopon On April 13, 2016, following the instructions of the Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Center, Aegean's ASM tanker M/T Rizopon, while drifting off Zawia, launched a rescue operation of 235 immigrants (6 babies, 111 female, 118 male). The 235 immigrants were found onboard two rubber boats, in the waters between Italy and Libya. Nationalities declared by the immigrants are as follows: Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Guinea, Soudan, Cameroun, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Somailia, and Senegal. M/T Rizopon approached the two boats, safely collected all immigrants on board and resumed her voyage to Caglierim Sardenia (Italy) following the instructions of the Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Center. The crew offered the immigrants food, water and milk. On April 14, 2016 M/T Rizopon reached her destination port and delivered the immigrants to the Italian Authorities. This is the fifth successful rescue operation for the M/T Rizopon. Aegean Shipping is proud of our Captain, Officers and crew and we congratulate them for their good seamanship and gallant efforts! Immigrants delivered to the Italian authorities ALBA students at the Aegean headquarters in Piraeus ALBA Students Visit Aegean On May 16 twenty students from ALBA Graduate Business School visited the Aegean headquarters in Piraeus. ALBA is a non-governmental, non-profit educational organization established by the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV), the Hellenic Management Association (EEDE), and the Commercial and Industrial Chamber of Athens (EVEA). Ninety companies, many of which are shipping companies, are corporate members of ALBA. The students attended a presentation, which took place on the 8th floor of the Aegean headquarters under the supervision of Prof. Spyros Vougious. The students had the opportunity to ask senior Aegean executives questions related to trading, bunkering and shipping. Professor Vougious thanked Aegean for the hospitality. Aegean continues to invest in education by supporting young students and future career men and women. Presentation by Nikolaos Hondos of Aegean SUMMER 2016 AEGEAN NEWS 5 A E G E A N UPDA T E Marine Pollution Response Exercise in Aspropyrgos The Floreal at Port Elizabeth Port Elizabeth Supply of French National Army Frigate On April 19 Aegean supplied Floreal, a monitoring frigate of the French National Army, at Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Floreal's mission is the monitoring of French Exclusive Economic Zones. In 1993, she took part in United Nations Operation in Somalia II to protect Blue Helmets. In 1995, she took part in the capture of the Head of Comorian Presidential Guard Bob Denard (1929-2007), in the Comoros. Aegean has made a fresh and dynamic start in South Africa by deploying the 70,000dwt M/T Umnenga as floating storage in Algoa Bay, ensuring constant availability and efficient operations. Algoa Bay is strategically situated with an 8-10 mile deviation from the main shipping routes between the Middle East, Americas and Europe. The bay is well protected with open access to high seas and space for numerous vessels at anchorage. Passing vessels bunkering at Algoa Bay benefit with no time lost waiting for inport bunker deliveries and save significantly on the calling costs at South African ports. Aegean’s M/T Lefkas, a double-hull bunker barge, conducts bunker deliveries. Aegean will deploy a second barge in the near future to expand supply operations. Vessels are supplied either at the anchorage or inport (Port Elizabeth and Coeaga Port). Marine Fuel RMG 380 and Marine Gasoil (MGO 0.1) is available at ISO 8217 standards. Operations run on a 24/7 basis. On June 15 the Aegean antipollution team held a marine pollution response exercise at the Melco installation in Aspropyrgos as part of the annual staff training program for 2016. During the exercise Aegean staff created an antifouling barrier using pollution absorption materials and trained the new company staff. Antipollution barrier and pollution absorbers AEK is the 2016 Greek Cup Winner Greek association football club AEK F.C. (Athlitiki Enosis Konstantinoupoleos, Athletic Union of Constantinople, abbreviated as AEK), returned in the top level leagues of Greek football after winning the Greek Cup for the first time after five years. AEK won the Cup, upsetting champion Olympiakos 2-1 at the "Spiros Louis" Olympic Athletic Center of Athens (OAKA), filling with joy the team’s supporters, who have stoically endured the challenge of being in a lower level league for the past few years. AEK has returned stronger! "We are coming" turned into "we are here!" This is a new beginning and the best is yet to come! 6 AEGEAN NEWS SUMMER 2016 Logging On Customers and associates may log on at: www.aegeanoil.com Customers and associates of Aegean Marine Petroleum may log on at: www.ampni.com Barcelona Antipollution Drill On May 17 an antipollution drill was carried out at the port of Barcelona with the participation of the Aegean IOS I barge. The Aegean pollution combating team followed the plan with all needed materials and contained the spill before it expanded beyond control and polluted the sea area. The Barcelona Port Authorities expressed their satisfaction in the way the captain and crew responded. Aegean, with the strictest environmental standards in the shipping sector, maintains its staff in a state of vigilance, with proper training at regular intervals. With experience in training, and the will to protect the environment, we are optimistic about the environment we will leave to our children. Aegean participates in anti-pollution exercise at the port of Barcelona Voluntary Blood Drive On June 22 a Greek Red Cross blood donation mobile unit came to the Melco facilities in Aspropyrgos to enhance the blood bank of the company. As expected, many Aegean employees participated to the12th Aegean blood drive. The colleagues who donated blood are Dimitris Kamenidis, Zafiris Kyrmpeis, Panagiotis Kalogeropoulos, Adil Kara, Aris Nakas, Kostas Skalas, Panagiotis Chatzidimitriou, Konstantinos Kantarellis, Archonion Giannikouris, Dionysis Symeoforidis, Petros Kordalis, Panagiotis Kyriakopoulos, Athanassios Azaroglou, Panagiotis Misailidis, Panagiotis Kolympiris, Paraskevas Paraskevas, Kyriakos Boutzikas, and Yiannis Komninos. Aegean Opens New COCO Service Station on Mykonos Island As part of the company’s corporate strategic planning implementation, Aegean has launched a new COCO (Company Owned Company Operated) service station on Mykonos, which is already in full operation serving the customers of the island. The service station is located in Amigdalidi on the new ring road of the island that connects Ano Mera with the port. Aegean created this new service station with respect for the unique architectural style of Mykonos and installed the most advanced and environmentally friendly technology. The new Aegean service station on Mykonos offers all types of liquid fuel and vehicular LPG. The service station also supplies tourist boats that visit the island using company-owned tanker trucks. SUMMER 2016 AEGEAN NEWS 7 A E G E A N UPDA T E Nikolaos Hondos, Dimitris Melissanidis, Mokhele Tsietsi, Spyros Fokas and Salvatore Drago Nikolas Tavlarios The Aegean dinner Manolis Chochlakis, Boris Gronenberg, Stathis Pavlikakis, Alvaro Marques de Azavedo, Iason Ktenas, Gratsiella Kladis, Hara Fikiris, Tony Vertommen, Geert Boden, Vedran Bovan, Dennis Ho, Leonidas Broumas, Dorothy Papadogiannis, Panos Tsikleas, Mary Skafida, Sotiris Delidimitriou, Andrew Ananiev, Soumela Fotiadou, Gregory Robolakis, and Antonis Pavlakis. Aegean Celebrates On June 7, during the week of Posidonia 2016, Aegean Marine Petroleum hosted an event on the eighth floor of the company’s headquarters in Piraeus for the representatives from all Aegean bunkering stations around the world. Old and new colleagues had the opportunity to further strengthen their relations and better familiarize themselves with the company. Associates from Singapore, Antwerp, New York, new friends from St. Petersburg, Rio and Hamburg, and colleagues from the AMP and ABS attended the dinner in the presence of Dimitris Melissanidis and Nikolas Tavlarios. Mr. Tavlarios delivered a short speech, during which he stressed the need for continued communication between Aegean executives to better address everyday problems and optimize results. The evening was very pleasant, highlighted by a song by fellow aspiring singer from the Antwerp office, Geert Boden. Charity Race On June 4, during the week of Posidonia 2016, a five-kilometer street race was held in Piraeus with participants from around the world. The proceeds were donated to charity. The starting point and the finish line were at the Municipal Theatre of Piraeus. Twenty Aegean employees participated, worthily representing the company: S. Kintas, P. Kolympiris, P. Kalogeropoulos, M. Samson, K. Barlou, E. Filiopoulou, M. Xenou, M. Bokou, A. Topalidis, N. Zaharopoulos, S. Papadopoulou, M. Halou, I. Kyranas, P. Lialios, E. Panagopoulou, N. Mendrinou, D. Konomi and B. Motou. 8 AEGEAN NEWS SUMMER 2016 P ONTIAN 1 4 2 5 NEWS 3 6 7 1. The audience at the Temple of Olympian Zeus 2. Savvas Kalenteridis, Dimitris Melissanidis, George Tsalouchidis, Ivan Savvidis, and Christina Sahinidis 3. Young dancers 4. The drums set the pace 5. The Minister of National Defence, Panos Kammenos 6. Traditional dancers 7. The knife dancers Majestic Events in Memory of the Pontian Genocide Pontians and Armenians Send Out a Powerful Message from the Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens Two peoples with an extraordinary history and culture, Pontian Greeks and Armenians, shared an event of remembrance that took place at the Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens, "a brilliant night in a sacred place" said the presenter, Alexis Kostalas, sending out a strong message: "We remember, we honor our past, and we move forward stronger than ever." E vents in memory of the genocide of Pontian Greeks and Armenians took place in Athens on May 21. The proceedings initially unfolded along the pedestrianized Dionysiou Areopagitou Street at the foot of the Acropolis hill. The high point of the evening was without a doubt the musical performance at the Temple of Olympian Zeus, which included dozens of dancers and singers, melodies from drums and lyres, Pontian and Armenian traditional dances, as well as alterations of recitation and music, all indicating how similar the two cultures are, much like their tragic history. The Minister of Defense, Panos Kammenos, who opened the event, said: "An apology by the Turkish government will redeem the Turkish people from the burden of collective guilt." The Interior and Administrative Reconstruction Minister Panagiotis Kouroumblis, Deputy Minister of Defense Dimitris Vitsas, Deputy Finance Minister Trifon Alexiadis, Deputy Minister of State for Coordinating Government Operations Terrence Kouik, the leader of the Greek centrist party (Union of Centrists - Enosi Kentroon) Vassilis Leventis, the Chief of Hellenic Army General Staff of Pontian descent Lieutenant General Vasilios Tellidis, and the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff Lieutenant General Christos Vaitsis attended the event. The President of the Armenian National Committee in Greece (ANC Greece) Kerop Ekizian, Pontian cosmonaut Theodore Giourtsichin-Grammatikopoulos, Vice President of the Armenian National Assembly Eduard Sharmazanov, DISYPE president George Parcharidis, Prof. Konstantinos Fotiadis, the President of Greek National Union of Pontian Officers George Tsalouchidis, the soprano of Pontian descent Sonia Theodoridou, the Paralympic athlete Gregory Polichronidis, the businessman Ivan Savvidis, and the founder of Aegean Dimitris Melissanidis were also present. An emotional audience watched with undiminished interest the performances on stage, which emitted humanism and messages of militancy worldwide. SUMMER 2016 AEGEAN NEWS 9 R ET A I L Aegean Presents D-Force Fuel to Northern Greece Service Station Owners On June 16 Aegean presented its D-Force Diesel Fuel at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Thessaloniki. Numerous Northern Greece service station owners, in whose stations the new DForce fuel is now available, attended the event. 1 2 3 4 5 6 1, 2. The presentation of D-Force in Thessaloniki 3. The outdoor reception at the Hyatt 4. The dance group of the “Akrites of Pontos” cultural association 5. Northern Greece service station operators 6. Iakovos Melissanidis (center) with members of the “Akrites of Pontos” I akovos Melissanidis opened the presentation with greetings and a few words. Following Mr. Melissanidis, Anna Papatheocharis, a chemical engineer and the representative of the company that manufactures the additives for D-Force, presented the participants 10 AEGEAN NEWS SUMMER 2016 with the properties and advantages of the new fuel, and Antonis Papadakis, Deputy CEO of Aegean Oil, briefed the station owners on the successive stages of tests and checks prior to the final selection and the marketing of D-Force within the Aegean service stations network. After the presentation the quests enjoyed a reception at the outdoor area of the Hyatt in an extremely pleasant and relaxing atmosphere, while the dance group of the “Akrites of Pontos” cultural association provided the guests with a performance to remember. HELLENIC ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER Presentation at the Port of Alexandroupolis On June 9 HEC hosted a presentation on the protection of the marine environment and the application of appropriate rules and regulations at the request of the Port Authority of Alexandroupolis. Staff, officers, and members of the Alexandroupolis Port Authorities were present at the event. T heo Gavrielides, HEC’s partner in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, informed the executives of the Alexandroupolis Port Authorities on topics such as types and quantities of waste, environmental legislation, international, EU and national legislation on waste management, as well giving the HEC company profile. The participants found the presentation very interesting and had numerous questions for Mr. Gavrielides. Concluding his speech, Mr. Gavrielides said that what must emerge from his presentation is improved coordination in the process of control and waste reception from the Alexandroupolis Port Authorities and the concessionaire company, HEC. The Alexandroupolis Port Authority representative agreed with Mr. Gavrielides’ proposal and everyone con- curred that such events that aim at information sharing should take place with the participation of port users. Distinction of HEC at the European Business Awards for the Environment On March 30 the Greek Association of Environmental Protection (PASEPPE) and the European Commission's Environment Directorate (DG Environment) announced the winners of the European Business Awards for the Environment (EBAE). HEC is among the finalists in the third category (Process Award) and in the subcategory “Business & Biodiversity Award.” The competition is open to companies, organizations, and public and private institutions that successfully combine innovation, economic viability, sustainable development, environmental protection and commitment to the circular economy. The award ceremony will take place in Tallinn in October 2016. SUMMER 2016 AEGEAN NEWS 11 A E G E A N GL OB A L Aegean Global Market Trends On the occasion of Posidonia 2016, executives from Aegean’s global network of bunker stations met in Athens. Aegean News presents up-to-date market trends from around the world. Gregory Robolakis General Manager Aegean Marine Petroleum S.A. Greece this year is benefiting from increased cruise traffic and therefore prospects for the entire season are improved. Aegean positively capitalized on this trend and of course we are positioning better due to our infrastructure, reputation, pricing, service and our growing global brand name. 12 AEGEAN NEWS SUMMER 2016 Captain Christopher Roberts Aegean Bunkering USA (LLC) Regional Manager Americas, New York On the East Coast of the U.S. Aegean is positioned well because we always have supply and our operations staff is second to none. The ship-owners know that when they do a deal with Aegean it will be done properly and professionally. The market is starting to trend upward and it is a dogfight (especially in New York.) Currently there are six suppliers in New York so it is an extremely competitive market. All the more need to be on top of everything operationally. Salvatore Drago Director, Global Trading, New York Our ability to source and blend fuel oil from around the globe has been a great asset to Aegean as we continue to expand our bunkering business in locations such as Port Elizabeth. Boris Gronenberg Dennis Ho Jonathan Mcllroy Marketing, Marine Fuels Managing Director, Hamburg General Manager, Singapore Bunker Trading Manager, Piraeus The year 2017 presents an exciting time for Aegean in Singapore when mass flow meter (MFM) supply becomes compulsory on all bunker tankers. Aegean’s barges have all been fitted with approved MFMs. Together with our expertise on cargo sourcing and our already well-regarded supply capabilities, we are ready to embrace the new regime. Globally, Aegean’s strategy is to expand back to back trading worldwide, benefitting from the existing presence of a market-leading physical supply network. Aegean in Hamburg has been growing steadily since opening operation almost two years ago. We are proud to have established our presence in this market with strategically located storage facilities and would like to thank our German partners for their continuous support. Alvaro Marques de Azavedo Tony Vertommen Managing Director, North West Europe, Antwerp, Belgium In a huge market like the ARA, every day starts as a challenge. Nevertheless we at Aegean manage to maintain and even strengthen our position, being the top supplier covering all ports of our area. This is only possible due to the professionalism of our complete staff in combination with our logistic infrastructure. Andrew Ananiev St. Petersburg, Russia, Director Although the Russian market experienced a steady volume rise in early 2016, the Aegean Neva office managed to add many new clients to it’s portofolio. We also welcomed recent news the cooperation agreement between Rosneft and Hellenic Refinery as a sign of improving economic relations in the industry. Managing Director, South American, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2016 is the right time for the start of operations for Aegean in South America. Certainly it is a challenging market as many countries find themselves amid a crisis but, on the other hand, it is a time of opportunities and market changes. With Aegean’s expertise in the physical markets we will be able to develop new business niches, not only in established markets but also in remote locations. SUMMER 2016 AEGEAN NEWS 13 FLOWS AND CURRENTS Divers Explore A 1,600-YearOld Roman Shipwreck At first divers stumbled across a sculpture partially buried in the ocean floor 30 miles from Caesarea. That discovery led to the remnants from a 1,600-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Israel. The Israeli Antiquities Authority examined anchors from the ship, water jugs, fragments of full-size statues, smaller sculptures and lamps, including one of the Roman sun god Sol, as well as two large clumps of coins, which helped give experts an idea of when the ship sank. Two Roman rulers depicted on the coins helped researchers place the shipwreck between 300 and 500 A.D. Experts can't say for certain what caused the ship to sink. They theorize it tried to anchor itself in place during a storm but ended up smashing against nearby rocks and a seawall. Weirdly enough, winding up on the ocean floor might have helped the relics survive the last several centuries. Experts believe the ship was taking them to be melted and recycled. 14 AEGEAN NEWS SUMMER 2016 Interactive Map Shows Global Ship Movement Large ships carry about eleven billion tons of cargo around the world every year. Ships transport all kinds of goods from port to port and that is what makes the global economy go round. Now there's a great way to visualize this entire process, through an interactive map from the UCL Energy Institute, which traces container ships, dry bulk carriers, oil and fuel tankers, gas carriers, and ships transporting vehicles by type. One can even zoom in on different regions. The researchers assembled data from the thousands of commercial ships that moved across the ocean in 2012. They then worked with the data visualization studio Kiln to make this map. https://www.shipmap.org/ Shipping Industry Needs More Seafarers Unless seafarer-training levels are increased significantly, the growth in demand for seafarers could generate a serious shortage in the total supply of officers. An additional 147,500 officers will be required by 2025 to service the world merchant fleet. The IMO (International Maritime Organization) reports that the current shortfall stands at 2.1%, amounting to some 16,500 officers, and some officer categories are in a especially short supply, including engineer officers at management level and officers needed for specialized ships such as chemical, LNG and LPG carriers. Although the global supply of officers is forecast to increase steadily, increasing demand will most likely outpace this. In the past five years the industry has made good progress with increasing recruitment and training levels and reducing officer wastage, as the report estimates that there is a current surplus of 15.8%, about 119,000 ratings, with demand only having increased by about 1% since 2010. One of the Largest Cruise Ships in the World In Piraeus The prestigious Ovation of the Seas sailed into Piraeus this past May. PPA executives greeted the captain and crew at the port. The impressive ship, which started its maiden journey in Trieste, measures 348 meters in length, weighs 168,666 tons and can accommodate 4,180 passengers. With 1,300 crewmembers, the Ovation spans 18 decks and features 2,091 cabins. The ship, recently constructed at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany, is intended for the Far East and China markets. Passengers get a choice of 18 restaurants and virtual cabins with a balcony and internal units with large digital displays that ensure that every room has a view. What's more, a glass capsule, which rises 300 feet above sea level, offers passengers a 360-degree view. A History of the Postwar Greek Shipping Industry Hits the Bookshelves Gelina Harlaftis’ "Greek Shipowners and Greece: 1945-1975, From Separate Development to Mutual Interdependence" (2015) outlines the basic structure of Greek shipping firms, analyzes the Greek shipowners' ties to the rest of the Greek economy, as well as the specific problem and policy dilemmas that are associated with these ties. Harlaftis, a Professor Warmer Ocean Waters Powered El Niño, Scientists Say of Maritime History in the Department El Niño (Spanish for "the boy") is the warm phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation and is associated with a band of warm ocean water that develops in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific. The phenomenon is accompanied by high air pressure in the western Pacific and low air pressure in the eastern Pacific and causes global changes of both temperatures and rainfall. A new study provides insight into how the current El Niño, one of the strongest on record, formed in the Pacific Ocean. The new research finds easterly winds in the tropical Pacific Ocean stalled a potential El Niño in 2014 and left a swath of warm water in the central Pacific. The presence of that warm water stacked the deck for a monster El Niño to occur in 2015, according to scientists. reasons for the Greek Shipping’s enor- of History at the Ionian University on the island of Corfu, explains that the mous expansion after the Second World War have been the subject of considerable debate and the net benefits to Greece—as distinct from the welfare of individual entrepreneurs—have also been the focus of discussion. The book provides a thorough account of this perplexed but extraordinary story while the body of data presented and analyzed makes it possible to form an informed historical view of Greek preeminence in sea transport. SUMMER 2016 AEGEAN NEWS 15 P OSI DONI A Posidonia 2016 1 Athens once again hosted the global shipping community at Posidonia 2016, the world’s most prestigious maritime event, held at Athens Metropolitan Expo June 6-10. Posidonia 2016 in Numbers Visitors Exhibitors Countries Represented Square Meters 22,000 1800 90 40,000 16 AEGEAN NEWS SUMMER 2016 2 3 1. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras 2. Cutting the ribbon 3. President of the Opposition Kyriakos Mitsotakis arriving 4. Posidonia live 5. The Opening Ceremony Professional Learning 4 5 M ore than 22,000 shipping industry professionals visited Posidonia to meet, network and do business with more than 1,800 exhibitors from 90 countries deployed across 40,000 square meters. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras inaugurated Posidonia 2016 with Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Theodore Dritsas. The inaugural ceremony was attended by heads of states, European Union officials, Greek cabinet members, foreign maritime ministers, ambassadors, board members of the Union of Greek Shipowners, chairmen of international organizations as well as some 1,800 exhibitors and delegates from around the world. “Posidonia 2016 has managed to set new records in floor space, number of conferences and seminars as well as visitor numbers showcasing the unrivalled appeal the event enjoys amongst the world’s maritime com- munity,” said Theodore Vokos, Executive Director, Posidonia Exhibitions S.A, the event’s organizer. “The vote of confidence we receive from our repeat exhibitors is a recognition that gives us the confidence and drive to work even harder to further improve the overall experience of those who honor us with their participation and attendance every two years,” he said. Posidonia 2016 was held under the auspices of the Greek shipping community and the five major associations representing Greek shipping interests: Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy, Municipality of Piraeus, Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, Union of Greek Shipowners, Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee, Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association and Association of Passenger Shipping Companies. The next Posidonia event scheduled to be held June 4-8, 2018. A rich program of conference sessions, focused workshops and seminars were held at the venue. Chaired by industry leaders and technical experts, the education events addressed issues, challenges and opportunities facing the industry. Posidonia 2016 also hosted the Tradewinds Shipowners Forum at the Posidonia conference hall. The Posidonia Games A highly popular part of the Posidonia business social mix, the games appeal to the competitive nature of shipping professionals but in a spirit of friendly rivalry. The Posidonia Games program included the Posidonia Cup yacht race, the hugely popular five-a-side Posidonia Shipsoccer Tournament, the Posidonia Golf Tournament and the new addition to the Posidonia program, the Posidonia Running Event. SUMMER 2016 AEGEAN NEWS 17 P OSI DONI A Aegean at Posidonia 2016 3 2 4 18 AEGEAN NEWS SUMMER 2016 1 Aegean was well represented at Posidonia 2016, with two impressive exhibition spaces, for both Aegean and Hellenic Environment Center. E xecutives from Aegean Marine Petroleum, Aegean Shipping Management, Aegean Oil, Aegean Lubricants, Aegean Agency and HEC were on hand daily to meet customers from around the world, to introduce the company and its many products and services to new visitors, and to discuss trends and challenges in today’s market. George Melissanidis of Aegean Shipping said, “Posidonia is a key event for Aegean. We are able to take a pulse of the market with face-toface meetings, renew relationships with established and new customers, showcase our expanding portfolio of products and services, and forge new partnerships. We are also proud that Greece, a global leader in shipping, hosts this event. The accomplishments of the Greek shipping industry are well known. The influence of our country in one of the most crucial sectors in the world is reflected in the success of Posidonia and we look forward to even greater success, both at Aegean and in the role of Greece.” Rania Atmatzidou-Agiostratitis, of Hellenic Environment Center, said, “For HEC, Posidonia means communication with customers and potential customers in a professional yet relaxed environment, where everyone is focused on new ideas, new projects, and new relationships. Hellenic Environment Center, as it expands opera- tions, is dedicated to providing the best service in the market and Posidonia allows us to spotlight our strengths and pioneering role.” 1. Grigoris Rompolakis, George Giotas, Pavlos Ioannidis, George Melissanidis, Maria Kritikou, Ilias Syrros, Mara Giogaki, and Nikolaos Hondos 2,6. The Aegean Posidonia 2016 booth 3. George Melissanidis welcomes guests at the Aegean booth 4. Gkratsiela Kladis, Kostas Prearis, Eleftheria Antonellou, and Mary Skafida 5. Jason Ktenas, Mary Skafida, Gina Panousi, Gkratsiela Kladis and Gavrilos Paravalos 7,8. The HEC Posidonia 2016 booth 9. John Agiostratitis, Panagiotis Stamatogiannis, Rania Atmatzidou, and George Melissanidis 5 6 7 8 9 SUMMER 2016 AEGEAN NEWS 19 P OSI DONI A The Aegean Party A egean once again hosted one of the most impressive parties of the entire Posidonia week. More than 3000 guests enjoyed an evening of conversation, networking, relaxing, dining, cocktails, entertainment and music until the wee hours of the morning. The event was held June 9 at Balux Prive on the Athenian Rive- 1 2 20 AEGEAN NEWS SUMMER 2016 ra. The Romanos Orchestra greeted guests with a selection of classics dating back to the ‘40s. Then Thanasis Polykandriotis and Syrtaki Dancers provided a traditional Greek identity to the evening followed by Pontian Dancers. The Goldsingers followed before the star of the evening, Antonis Remos, entertained the guests with his signature sound. 3 4 5 6 7 8 1. Amalia Vardiogianni and Spyros Kapralos 2. Julie Kammenou, Ilias Kammenos, Sophia Sodi, and Panos Kammenos 3. Irene Ntaifas and Antonis Komninos 4. Jenny Melissanidou, Dimitris Melissanidis, and Marianna Latsis 5. George Melissanidis and Eva Kaili 6. Christos Papazis and Hala Khoury 7. Eleonora Meleti 8. Aspasia Leventi, Evagoras Leventis, and Vassilis Leventis SUMMER 2016 AEGEAN NEWS 21 Π Ο ΣΕΙ Δ ΏΝΙ Α 9 10 11 12 22 AEGEAN NEWS SUMMER 2016 13 14 15 16 17 19 18 9. Loukia Matsa, Ileana Evert, Petros Doukas, and Marina Douka 10. Zoe Tsitsani and George Tsavliris 11. Mema Simonetatou and Nikos Agapinos 12. Tawfic Khoury, Dimitris Melissanidis, and Harris Pampoukis 13. Marina Lalioti and Kostas Laliotis 14. Ilias Psinakis and Miltiadis Varvitsiotis 15. Thanasis Kyratsous and Della Rounick 16. Paris Kasidokostas, Eva Kaili, and Miltos Kambouridis 17. Nikos Tsavliris and Maira Tsavliris 18. Kostas Martakis and Erietta Kourkoulou 19. Soumela Fotiadou, Stella Lazaridi, Dorothy Papadogiannis, and Mary Skafida SUMMER 2016 AEGEAN NEWS 23 THE AEGEAN INTERVIEW Aegean Marine Petroleum— A Global Leader Nikolaos Hondos, General Manager of Aegean Bunkering Services Inc., discusses Aegean’s position as the world’s largest independent physical supplier of bunkers. How did Aegean Marine Petroleum get its start? Marine fuels have been the cornerstone and the base on which the network of Aegean was built. It all began in 1995 when Mr. Dimitris Melissanidis established the first bunkering station and started to trade marine fuels in the largest port of Greece, Piraeus. Since then, the expansion of the company in the international markets commenced and the bunkering stations and vessels multiplied spectacularly, leading Aegean to the top of physical suppliers worldwide. This expansion and broadening of Aegean’s business activities in the international markets and the promising prospects opening up, together with the new ambitious plans, led to the foundation of Aegean Marine Petroleum Network, which in 2006 entered in the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), a development that changed the business scene and opened new prospects for Aegean. Today’s fleet is more than 60 vessels. What are the greatest challenges in managing this fleet, based around the world? • The worldwide expansion and presence in various different countries around the globe. Station set-up and operation in countries with completely different business and social cultures requires quick adaptation to local customs. • The diversification of AMPNI’s operations. Apart from traditional bunkering operations near large ports, the trade has expanded to ocean bunkering and chartering of vessels for the carriage of petroleum products, which in turn require frequent relocation of vessels. • Fleet variety. Presently ocean going product tankers, inland self-propelled barges and towed barges are operated around the world. The operational and statutory requirements vary greatly between different vessel types and regions of deployment. • Cost effective technical management and maintenance. Bunkering stations all over the globe and the operation 24 AEGEAN NEWS SUMMER 2016 of vessels in different, sometime remote, trading areas in a constantly changing economic environment is by itself a huge task which requires careful planning of scheduled maintenance tasks as well as unforeseen damages or equipment failures. • Logistics of spares/stores/supplies: The large number of the vessels in the fleet and their varying locations require extra efforts for their cost effective and smooth, uninterrupted supply. • Personnel aspects: Proper fleet operation and maintenance of the ships depends, greatly, on the quality of the shore and onboard personnel. The variety of vessels and operating regions poses additional challenges to the sourcing of qualified personnel, suitable for the specific tasks at each location. Today’s market is challenged with slowed growth and high competition. How would you describe the difficulties—and Aegean opportunities—of dealing with this mixture of issues? The market has been in a prolonged state of flux since the onset of the financial crisis in 2008. The oil and shipping sectors have been particularly hard hit and as the bunker market effectively sits between both of these industries it means the business has experienced pressure. Aegean has met these challenges by focusing on its core values—professionalism of service, competitiveness in price and strategic innovation. The combination of Aegean's financial strength, global physical presence, long-term experience and strong strategic management has enabled the group to handle the challenging market situation. Additionally, Aegean has been uniquely well-placed to identify and react to those commercial opportunities that have surfaced as a result of the pressures in the global bunkering and shipping industries as shown by new developments which have expanded the physical network. Aegean believes that it is capable to further consolidate its position as the world's number one independent physical supplier even in these tough trading conditions. There is an increasing concern for Safety and Environmental in shipping. How does Aegean address such concerns? It is Aegean’s policy to provide healthy and safe working conditions, promote and enhance safety as a work culture, prevent loss or human injury and avoid any adverse impact on the environment (marine or otherwise) including property. Besides having a structured Safety & Environmental Management System to ensure compliance and conformity with IMO regulations and other applicable national and international regulations, relevant standards and guidelines, Aegean is also certified against environmental excellence with ISO 14001:2009. Aegean focuses on: • Safe and Secure operations (no loss of human lives or injuries or damage of the ship or her cargo—no security violations) • Environmental friendly operations (i.e. Zero spill and or air pollution incidents) • Establishing safeguards against identified risks, through proper Risk Management • C ontinuously improving Safety Management skills of personnel ashore and aboard ships, including preparing for emergencies related to safety of human life, property and environment As the largest independent physical supplier in the world, how does Aegean view the future of the market, especially in light of the recent Posidonia exhibition held in Athens? Aegean remains firmly committed to its strategic focus on being the world's largest independent physical supplier and will continue to innovate to boost that position. We believe that the consolidation of the bunker sector in the past decade will continue, creating a market-leading group of globally-active, high-volume companies with the financial strength and strategic vision to manage these challenging markets. Aegean sees itself at the forefront of this group, benefitting from an expanding global presence in the physical supply markets and growth in back-to-back trading. This year's Posidonia underlined the resilience of both the shipping and bunkering industries after eight challenging years since 2008. One of the clear messages that emerged from Posidonia is that shipping and bunkering companies are partners in facing these market challenges. Successful long-term partnerships depend on trust, good communication and high standards of professionalism. Aegean is Nikolaos Hondos Aegean remains firmly committed to its strategic focus confident that it has such partnerships with its shipping clients and that this will contribute to all parties being able to successfully navigate the current market difficulties. And how do you view the future of Aegean, as it rapidly expands, most recently in South Africa and South America and with your new back-to-back capabilities? Aegean is optimistic. The group is confident in its business model and constantly monitors the markets to identifying commercial opportunities and innovate new bunkering solutions that meet clients' needs. The development of the physical supply station in Algoa Bay (South Africa) is an example of Aegean's ability to identify trends in global shipping and bunkering markets and innovate by creating South Africa's first physical supply station at anchorage. The Algoa Bay operation is an ideal bunkering solution for shipowners and operators with tonnage engaged in trans-Atlantic, East-West and North-South trades and the response from clients has been overwhelmingly positive. Aegean is currently evaluating new physical supply stations in various South American markets in a further sign of the group's commitment to strategic expansion and ongoing innovation. The addition of back-to-back trading on a global basis to complement the group's worldwide physical supply presence has been the latest step in offering a truly comprehensive range of bunkering solutions and has been welcomed by customers that trust Aegean professionalism and competitiveness. SUMMER 2016 AEGEAN NEWS 25 STATIONS OF THE MONTH The Best Deal Athanasios Raptis & Co., Thessaloniki Athanasios’ service station is located in Vassilika, Thessaloniki. We spoke with him about his business and his collaboration with Aegean. Please tell us about your business and your area. Our service station is located in Vassilika on the Thessaloniki-Polygyros road. It is a quiet location in the village. 90% of our customers are steady customers from the region. The station occupies an area of about an acre and includes a car wash and a lubrication station. We sell Aegean car fuel and lubricants, and have two tanker trucks for heating oil distribution. Distribution is of great importance to us. Each year we sign up an additional 300-400 customers. Are there a lot of service stations in your area? How do you deal with the competition? What do your clients think of Aegean fuel? Five othrt service stations operate in our area, not too far away from ours. As you can understand, since the town is pretty small, this number (of service stations) is quite large, so there is harsh competition. Nonetheless, I am confident that customers prefer our service station. It has to do with the Aegean brand and their personal relationship with us. Everything matters. This is how we manage to survive. When was this service station established? How long have you personally been in the fuel business? We opened this service station eight 26 AEGEAN NEWS SUMMER 2016 Mr Raptis’ service station THESSALONIKI VASSILIKA | 40.485981,23.137961 Thessaloniki is the second most populous city and area in Greece. The area’s rich history stretches back to the Hellenistic period. Vassilika is a town of Thessaloniki that belongs to the municipality of Thermi. The first known mention of the name “Vassilika” dates back to 1094 in a Mount Athos document. Aegean has recently upgraded and renovated our service station years ago. I was not involved in this type of business before. It is a family business. My children and I work here and I don’t employ any staff. Have you been with Aegean since the beginning? How did you choose Aegean? We have been collaborating with Aegean since the beginning. The reason is that they offered us the best deal. What is your impression of your collaboration so far? Our collaboration is excellent. Aegean supports us. They have recently upgraded and renovated our service station. They painted everything and did what they had to do to renovate the service station. So far, they have been there to give us what we need and offer their help. I would say our relationship is ideal. A Step Forward Kostas Pagratis & Co., Corfu Mr. Pangratis’ service station is located in the busiest part of the island, at a distance of one kilometer from the port and airport of Corfu on Paleokastritsa National Road (Alikes area). Aegean News spoke with Kostas about his business and his involvement in the field of fuel. The service station of Mr Pagratis Have you been involved in the fuel business for a long time? I have been actively involved in the fuel business since 1996. Nevertheless, this [service station] is a family business that was established in 1968. Iakovos Melissanidis welcomed me as a friend. He trusted me. So he won me over. Please talk to us about your service station. We sell car fuel, car lubricants, and heating oil. We also run a car service station and a coffee shop. On the side we also run a company called Corfuel (www.corfuel.com) active in fuels and yachting services. When did your collaboration with Aegean start? Approximately two years ago. What made you decide to trust Aegean? Everything was a matter of timing. I had to take a step forward. I studied Aegean’s course from 1995 on and I spoke with company representatives. They were willing to answer all my questions "without expecting anything from me,” as they told me. And of course the "icing on the cake" was CORFU PALEOKASTRITSA NATIONAL ROAD- ALIKES POTAMOU AREA | 39.630672,19.884866 Located at the entrance of the Adriatic Sea, near the coast of Agii Saranda (Albania), Corfu is the second largest of the Ionian Islands and forms the northwesternmost part of Greece. Renowned for its beauty, Paleokastritsa, a coastal village northwest of the town of Corfu, lies just south of the Byzantine castle Angelokastro. Scholars argue that Paleokastritsa was the ancient capital of Corfu where Nausicaa found Odysseus. Iakovos Melissanidis. Straight talk. He welcomed me as a friend. He trusted me. So he won me over. How is your collaboration with Aegean today? Our cooperation is very good. We proceed looking forward. Talk to us about your customers. After so many years in this field we have built a strong relationship with our clients. We are there for them and they support us. We have a large clientele base and strive to overcome the difficulties of our time by helping them as much as we can. And they reciprocate. How does your clientele respond to the Aegean brand? In the beginning the Aegean brand seemed strange to them, as it was not well known on the island. But they trusted us and they were happy with the fuel quality. Now they are telling us that we should have switched over to Aegean years ago. Is there a lot of competition in your area? How do you deal with it? There is a lot of competition from various companies. We are who we’ve always been. We don’t do something different. The Aegean brand takes care of the rest. SUMMER 2016 AEGEAN NEWS 27 MARITIME TRADITION The Traditional Boat Association of Greece Reviving and Preserving Maritime Tradition since 1999 In November 1999 25 lovers of the old Greek shipbuilding art founded a cultural group under the name "Friends of Traditional Boats" in Perama, Attica. In 2014 the group was renamed and is now known as "The Traditional Boat Association of Greece.” T he Traditional Boat Association of Greece aims first and foremost to preserve old wooden hulls (such as Trehandiri, Karavoskaro, Perama, Tserniki and others) and restore them. The association also promotes laws that favor the use of traditional boats for tourism and favor traditional boat yards. In addition, they work to protect the marine environment. One of their goals is to establish a maritime museum of traditional boats. The association also takes pride in their effort to teach young people traditional sailing techniques and traditional boat building. At the EU level, association members have been trying to bring to the attention of the European Union 28 AEGEAN NEWS SUMMER 2016 the extinction of traditional boats through the practice of subsidies. To stop this practice they are trying to introduce a program that will allow them to salvage and restore more traditional hulls, which are historic monuments, through private ownership. Traditional Boat Show As part of their attempt to preserve and promote Greek maritime tradition, the Traditional Boat Association of Greece organized in May 2016 the 4th Traditional Boat Show on the island Poros, in collaboration with the island’s Municipality and the Municipal Port Authority. Visitors had the opportunity to see rare traditional wooden hulls decorated with flags and pennants. The boat show also included two musical evenings with traditional island music, as well as two exhibitions: the exhibition of photographs by American photographer Robert A. Mc Cabe, entitled "Aegean Boats 1954 - 1964" at the Citronne Gallery and a painting exhibition by Chrysa Delaporta. There was also an impressive exhibition of boat paintings by the pupils of the Poros primary school. The man of honor this year was the boat builder Stavros Tsikis who has built and repaired countless kaikis in Poros, many of which are still sailing on the Aegean Sea. We thank the Traditional Boat Association of Greece for kindly providing the material for this article. For more information please visit the association’s website at http://www.traditionalboats.gr as well as their page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/traditionalboatshow.gr/ TRAVEL WITH AEGEAN Μilos Known since prehistoric times, Milos is located in the Western Cyclades and has features different than most Cycladic islands. Its volcanic nature and unparalleled natural beauty, rich history, great food and friendly people make Milos an incomparable summer destination. Must See B ecause of Obsidian, a precious mineral of the Stone and Bronze Age, Milos has been popular since the prehistoric years. The intense volcanic activity gave Milos its current geological features that are full of contrasts and compose the exceptional beauty of the island. Venus de Milo The famous statue of Aphrodite of Milos was discovered by a Greek farmer in a field at the archaeological site in the village of Klima. Today the statue is located at the Louvre Museum in France. It is an incomparable model of femininity and female beauty, known throughout the world. Milos Castle Built on the hill of Prophet Elias in the town of Plaka, the Castle was created during the reign of the Duchy of Naxos and has no walls, but like most castles in the Cyclades is a fortified settlement. Museums Milos has five museums. Two stand out: the Archaeological Museum, which has a copy of the statue of Aphrodite of Milos, and the Mining Museum, which presents the mining history of Milos since prehistoric times. The Catacombs of Milos The catacombs of Milos are a unique Christian monument of great historical importance, since it functioned as a cemetery on Milos in the early years of Christianity. Kleftiko Beautiful volcanic rock formations and deep blue waters characterize Kleftiko, a former anchorage of pirates and thieves on the south side of the island. Visitors can reach this beautiful cove only by boat from the villages of Adamas and Kipos. Sarakiniko On the north side of Milos lies a beautiful geological peculiarity. Volcanic activity millions of years ago and erosion from the north winds and the sea have sculpted a unique lunar-like landscape that promises lovers of the sea an unforgettable experience. Klima This is the most picturesque of all the traditional villages of Milos. The colorful houses next to the blue-green sea offer the visitor a unique experience. Aegean service station SUMMER 2016 AEGEAN NEWS 29 CHILDREN AND THE ENVIRONMENT I Protect the Environment-I Safeguard my Future By staying informed about what is happening in the world and by passing the information on to others, we are taking a significant step toward the protection of our planet. The Lost Kingdom of Cleopatra 30 AEGEAN NEWS SUMMER 2016 Many advanced ancient civilizations ended due to earthquakes or other natural disasters. Precious objects and ruins of ancient cities are lost in the depths of lakes, seas and oceans worldwide. Such is the lost kingdom of Cleopatra, which was discovered buried beneath the deep waters. Lost for 1,600 years, the royal quarters of Cleopatra were discovered off the shores of Alexandria. Cleopatra VII Philopator (69 – August 12, 30 BC), known to history as Cleopatra, was the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. She was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, a family of Greek origin that ruled Egypt during the Hellenistic period after Alex- ander the Great’s death. It is commonly believed that an earthquake and tidal waves destroyed Cleopatra’s empire. A team of marine archaeologists, led by Frenchman Franck Goddio, began excavating the ancient city in 1998. Historians believe earthquakes and tidal waves submerged the site, yet astonishingly, several artifacts remained largely intact. Among the discoveries were the foundations of the palace, shipwrecks, red granite columns, and statues of the goddess Isis and a sphinx. It is a truly amazing underwater site for archaeologists who have so far discovered 20,000 sunken treasure objects. I BECOME INFORMED - I INFORM OTHERS - I ACT SUMMER 2016 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, Charleston, Los Angeles and Long Beach, Hamburg, the Gulf of Mexico, St. Petersburg, South Africa and Brazil. All its products are ISO 8217 certified. The Company, which is a member of IBIA and is ISO 9001 certified, is well positioned on the FOBAS White List. SHIPPING Aegean's fleet of ships is at the heart of its superior service worldwide. Its vessels operate in full compliance with EU and international standards, are all certified by ISM, ISPS and MLC as well as with ISO 9001, 14001, 18001 and 50001 and are in complete compliance with SOLAS and MARPOL regulations. Aegean continually adds to its fleet of ships, which transports oil cargoes worldwide on behalf of major oil companies, commercial clients, and Aegean customers. Its new GreenFleet (http://www.greenfleet.gr) incorporates the latest technologies to ensure reduced operating costs and reduced emissions, while increasing overall performance. LUBRICANTS Aegean produces and markets high performance lubricants for vehicles and industrial use under the Aegean brand and, for the marine market, under the ALFA brand. ALFA marine lubricants are certified and approved by the largest marine engine manufacturers in the world. The resources of our company and our follow–up service create our successful relationships and allow Aegean to supply lubricants in more than 550 ports worldwide. ENVIRONMENT-HEC The Hellenic Environmental Center collects, transports and processes oil residues from ships and land units (industrial, shipyards), while it also manages all liquid residues produced by ships. In order to carry out its work HEC has the most state-of-the-art equipment, consisting of floating separators, a fleet of pollutant-collecting tankers, and well-equipped tank trucks. HEC acts to protect the marine environment and at the same time contributes significantly to the saving of energy with the recycling procedures it uses to transform the reclaimed pollutants into energy resources. TRADING Aegean is dynamically active in the trading of crude oil and petroleum products worldwide. The Trading Department is comprised of dedicated and professional individuals who combine high level expertise and a great many years of experience in the oil industry. Petroleum products are supplied to a broad spectrum of customers who comprise the company's portfolio. Aegean has acquired its credibility from the high quality of the services it provides to suppliers and ship owners, a fact that supports the company’s ambitions for the achievement of long-range goals in the energy sector worldwide. Aegean’s websites www.aegeanoil.com www.ampni.com 32 AEGEAN NEWS SUMMER 2016