Mr. Charalambos Simantonis starts this, quite interesting conversation, with references to his family shipping company in Piraeus (ships which were built at Hellenic Shipyards) and continues with his path in Merchant Shipping.
He talks about the role models and the great personalities of Greek Shipping, as well as the influence his father had on him and on the way he perceives the industry, advising the younger generation to work in a plethora of different shipping companies, in order to gain a range of experiences.
He also points out the necessity for maritime executives to be learning continuously to keep up with the innovative developments in the field, as well as the need for young candidates entering the industry, to concentrate on matters related to shipping, concerning the environment.
In closing, Mr. Simantonis refers to the highly important contribution of shipowners to society and the basic elements that a newcomer in shipping must possess: perseverance, eagerness for hard work, the ability to take calculated risks, and continuous learning!