Antonis Zannikos, a native of Vrontados on the seafaring island of Chios and a descendant of a prominent maritime family, joins “Fair Winds and Following Seas” on Voice of Greece.
“The sea is central to the lives of the people of Chios and of Greeks in general. It offers enormous potential and many opportunities, as long as you recognize and seize them. I was a good student and, following the advice of others, I chose to study instead of going to sea, despite the many seafarers in our family.
“My son is continuing our maritime tradition. Although he scored more than 18,200 points in the university entrance examinations, he chose to become a captain first and later pursue whichever area of shipping he decides upon. You need experience at sea. You need to know the cargo hold, the mooring lines and the engine room, and gain a thorough understanding of life aboard a ship if you want to progress in the industry. Greek shipping also needs skilled professionals in company offices, many of which have relocated from London to Piraeus,” Zannikos says in his own distinctive way.
Produced and presented by Antonis Karagiannakis