Page 26 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - MARTIOS 2023

GREEK MARITIME HERITAGE

global activity, the collapse of global willingness to learn about and take
trade flows, and a drop in ship values. advantage of Greek maritime history,
In Germany, where the container market and I believe that there is a particular
was severely affected, the German momentum in this direction that we can
managers, through the KG SYSTEM, and should strengthen.
received subsidies and financing for
100% of the investment. In contrast, we ç As an individual, you have
borrowed from banking institutions at a been actively supporting ini-
rate of 60% - 70%. The crisis resulted in tiatives that benefit society
the collapse and dissolution of these at large for many years. More
schemes and affected German Banks specifically, through the
as the shareholders of the KGs were "Anthony E. Comninos" Foun-
unable to support their investments. dation, you have contributed
A healthy business, I believe, is one substantially to strength-
that can operate in times of recession ening our country's health,
by using money from the “piggy bank” it education and cultural sec-
created during the high markets of pre- tors. However, the maritime
vious years. This is precisely why ship- community's efforts to pro-
owners do not liquidate fleets during mote social welfare often go
crises but instead lay the foundations unrecognized by a large seg-
for the next bull market. ment of Greek society. What
steps should be taken to
ã Your family traces its ori- highlight the philanthropic
gins back to Syros, a historic work of Greek shipping?
Greek maritime centre. What I am sure you will agree that it is not
do you think is the future of about recognition but about making
the traditional strongholds a real contribution and good use of
of Greek shipping? Have we social action. There is mobilisation on
taken care as a society to the part of the shipping community, as
preserve the Greek maritime well as goodwill. Whether one chooses
heritage? to contribute publicly or does so qui-
Looking back to the distant or even etly has little to do with the actual
more recent past, one notices that value and impact of the act itself. His-
the Greeks often oriented themselves tory has shown that the Greeks from
exclusively towards foreign countries, all over the world have always helped
idealising almost anything foreign at selflessly and do so to this day.
every level. However, the current cir-
cumstances seem to be rectifying this è The recent unveiling of part
through actions that favour the effi- of the Anthony E. Comninos
cient use of own resources. Foundation’s collection at
As far as the Greek maritime heritage the “Treasures of Philhel-
is concerned, it seems that an effort lenic Painting” exhibition
is underway - which is expected to at the Benaki Museum and
intensify in the coming years - to make the Telloglio Foundation of
it more accessible and to contribute Thessaloniki has won pan-
decisively to its better understanding. I hellenic and international
bring to mind the example of the young recognition. This fine col-
people on our island of Syros who have lection demonstrates your
set as their goal the recording and pro- deep knowledge and love
motion of the marine wealth of Syros of art and culture. Is there
and the surrounding islands through a particular work that best
decentralised initiatives that, thanks to symbolises Greece’s journey
their digital form, will have an impact towards shaping a national
not only nationwide but also beyond identity for you?
the borders of Greece. The painting by the Italian artist Fran-
I find it encouraging that younger gen- cesco Podesti entitled “The Death of the
erations are actively expressing their Zakynthian fighter Spyros Dagliostros”,

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