"Little Odessa" with Ukrainian sailors and shipping companies in Piraeus

With no end in sight to the war in Ukraine, more than 500 Ukrainian shipping company executives, along with their families, have moved and settled in Greece.

The war in Ukraine continues, and hundreds of heads of Ukrainian shipping companies are moving to Greece. Although initially a temporary solution, chosen both because of the proximity of the two countries and cultural factors such as a shared religion, it is now trending towards a more permanent presence, sources in the shipping market say.

With hundreds of Greek shipping companies employing thousands of Ukrainian sailors and crew members on their ships, migration now, under the pressure of war, entrepreneurs and businesses, seems like an obvious development. Especially since Greece already has one of the largest and most developed shipping centers in the world, serving the most largest tonnage fleet in the world, owned by Greece.

More than 500 Ukrainian shipping executives, including their family members, have settled in Greece, according to sources cited by the respected shipping review TradeWinds. This development was strengthened by the actions of Greek shipping companies such as Neptune Lines and Technomar Shipping, which already in the spring decided to financially and bureaucratically support the relocation to Greece of the families of seafarers working on their ships.

Melina Trailou, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Neptune Lines and Neptune Dry and President of the Hellenic Shipowners’ Union, said in mid-March: “Lpeople are our priority and are at the center of our group ecosystem. Wishing to express my compassion and solidarity to the suffering seafarers and their families, I personally commit to support them, along with my team here in Greece, by creating a safe and healthy environment to ease their pain. As members of Neptune’s extended family, we stand by their side.“. Other groups – such as the Yiuroukou Group, which controls Technomar Shipping – are following the same path, actively supporting the hospitality of hundreds of Ukrainian seafarers and their families. However, now in Athens are opening first Ukrainian shipping offices.

Maxim Khaulin, director of ship management at the Ukrainian shipping company Intresco, explained in an interview with the shipping review TradeWinds that “including families, I would say that there are at least 500 people here.” Howlin brought his children, wife, parents and… company to Athens.

Following the crews and their families, shipping companies and executives move.

A total of 75,942 Ukrainians, including 19,760 minors, arrived in Greece from the start of the war until last week, according to data released by the Ministry of Citizens’ Protection. More and more Ukrainian shipping-related migrants arriving in Greece are becoming business leaders. Most already know the country and have existing business networks or relationships with Greece, such as Aquavita International, a bulk carrier based in Ukraine, the sources said. Several Ukrainian shipping companies have reportedly opened on the Miauli waterfront, either moving their head office to Greece or expanding an existing one, such as Varamar.

The move of executives, sailors and their families is facilitated, according to those involved, by the fact that the Greek state is very friendly to immigrants from Ukraine. Immigration services issue so-called temporary protective cards that allow Ukrainian citizens to work, rent housing and move freely around the country, as well as provide free medical care.

The dynamics of the development of the Ukrainian maritime lobby in Greece is such that many are now talking about the emergence “little Odessa” in Piraeus.

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