Epirotiki Line

Anastassios Potamianos began his first shipping venture in 1850 transporting cargo and passengers along the River Danube between the island of Cephalonia and the city of Brăila. Assisting Anastassios was his nephew, Giorgos Potamianos. When Anastassios Potamianos died in 1902 Giorgos undertook the management of the company and took the emblem of the Byzantine Cross as the company's trademark, and changed the company name to Epirotiki. In 1916 Giorgos moved to the new centre of shipping of Piraeus, acquiring his first steam powered ship. By 1926 the company owned 15 passenger vessels ranging between 800 and 1500 GRT.

During World War II, Piraeus was destroyed by German air attacks on the city. Only one vessel was saved, the G.Potamianos, which was appropriated by the Allies. At the conclusion of the war Epirotiki began its revival with the acquisition of three ships, ushering in its modern era.

Initially Epirotiki focused entirely on the cruise ship market and started round trip cruises operating in the Aegean Sea, Greek Islands and Eastern Mediterranean. Acquisitions of vessels such as Semiramis, Pegasus (I) and Hermes helped in the company's expansion. In the 1960s, Epirotiki continued to expand its operation, adding a number of Caribbean destinations. Vessels acquired in this period included the Argonaut, Jason, Orpheus, Apollon XI, and Poseidon among others.

The cruise industry grew quickly in the 1970s, and Epirotiki became the largest cruise ship company in Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean with additions to its fleet such as the Jupiter, Oceanos, World Renaissance, Odysseus, Mistral, Pegasus (II) and Triton. During the 1980s and after the company diversified into dry cargo carriers and crude oil tankers under separate management.

Epirotiki Lines reached South America in 1978 with an operator of São Paulo, taking advantage of the number of tourists that consolidated Linea "C" Italian lines could not meet in the tropical summer high season. The Greek company uses the MTS Atlantis, a transatlantic Greek crew, Italians (mostly) and Brazilians (some) chambermaids, to allow some of the routine dialogues on shipboard. The tour operator sold round-trip cruise ship or shipments per travel segment embarked on the Single Cabin regime, with relative success. This vessel was once the MTS ADONIS, sister ferry ship among others fleet's boats as the MTS EROS and MTS JASON, all refurbished as a luxury touristic ships. The route chosen in the Brazilian coast, connects the ports of Santos (SP), Angra dos Reis (RJ) and Rio de Janeiro (RJ). It is reported that one of the heiresses of the Hellenic business came aboard from Greece, a shaggy, purple short-haired, sixty-year-old lady, overseeing the vessel's services herself. In this campaign, the Consulate of Greece in Brazil, in Salvador (BA), nurtured the transatlantic booths with extensive printed tourist material with colored photographs and several maps with simulated 2-D terrestrial relief, with the main sea routes of the Helenic intrincate coasts and shorelines.

The apex of the operator with global services was reached in 1990 with the Greek headquarters in Piraeus (Akit Miaouli, 87), consolidating offices in London (6 Quadrant Arcade, Regent St.), Paris (8, Rue Auber 9a.), Rome (Via Barberini, 47), and New York City (608 Fifth Ave) and for South America business, its general representative and travel agent for Latin America market, was the partner Airtour Operator, in São Paulo (SP) Brazil.

In the marine tourism sector Epirotiki solidified its position through partnerships and mergers. In 1993 Epirotiki made a partnership with Carnival Cruise Lines, purchasing ships from Carnival in exchange for shares in Epirotiki. The company acquired the vessels Pallas Athena, Olympic and Apollon (II).

Around the same time, however, the company faced difficulties, as three of its cruise ships (Jupiter, Pegasus, and Oceanos) sank between 1988 and 1991.[1]

In 1995 Epirotiki merged its operations with Sun Line, creating a new company named Royal Olympic Cruise Lines. Initially maintaining its two brand names, Royal Olympic Cruise Lines began planning a public offering of the company in 1997. The company restructured its holdings, creating a new entity, Royal Olympia Cruise Lines, and listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange (ROCLF) in 1998.

Epirotiki remains at its traditional address and never changed hands.

A list of operating vessels in the fleet:

• Company History at Answers.com
• Simplon postcards
• Maritime Matters