Integrated ship manager founded in 1972, based in Vouliagmeni, Athens, with 90 vessels under management — 51 tankers, 24 bulk carriers, 7 LNG and 6 LPG carriers and 2 container ships — about 3,800 seafarers and over 300 shore staff.
I am writing directly from a bulk carrier and have just joined. The vessel is poorly maintained: the 220V and 440V insulation resistance is effectively zero, the elevator does not go to the captain's deck, and the provision crane cannot lift cargo. The food is very poor and the pantry is dirty. The only positive thing so far is the Starlink internet; the officers are Ukrainian and Filipino, while the ratings are Filipino.
In my opinion, it's not normal... The relationship between the captain/chief engineer and the company's office is somewhat closer than usual. Their complete disregard for us, except when we are on the ship, is a mess, and no contract with the crewing agency (most of our agencies are indeed crewing agencies) justifies this. Moreover, those who have worked long with island friends know that for the 'Spartans', absolutely no contract is a barrier or a guideline. This is purely their position, and for me, it is unacceptable - a broken telephone, where lies from Athens are seasoned with lies from Odessa...
I sail on the tanker side. In the years I have been here the company has repeatedly gone out of its way for me: they kept me working three years on an IMO document extension, paid for weeks of hotel accommodation when circumstances stranded me, and paid the waiting time in full, bonuses included. Paperwork issues that war-time documents create for Ukrainian crew are becoming a strain on employers generally, and I say that as someone this company has carried patiently.
My previous agency was stalling, so I replied to a three-month-old message, got an interview link, and only during the call realised which agency it was. The interview was fifteen relaxed minutes with a Greek manager, no technical examination, and within about five days I departed to a vessel of a Greek owner.