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Third-party management
are doing our best to keep our culture as Throughout my Greece has long been a stronghold
youthful as possible. career, I have for traditional ship management.
I would also like to note that the global learned that How do you see the role of third-
graduate programme we offer used to be it is not my party managers like V. Ships evolving
exclusively addressed to naval architects. successes that have in the Greek market? What are
Currently, we are expanding it to offer the contributed the key advantages you can offer
opportunity to young people from various to who I am today, to Greek shipowners today compared
educational backgrounds who aspire to but my failures. to in-house management?
be part of the shipping industry to attend Life is imperfect, Greek shipping is said to be character-
as well. and failure is part ised by the traditional ship management
of the process. model, meaning it is not very keen on
What advice would you offer to a young outsourcing its operations to third-party
person who is just beginning their managers. I personally disagree with
career in the maritime industry? that view. In my humble opinion, there
The best advice I can offer to young people is room for both methods, and I am con-
is to be both ambitious and patient. Older fident that third-party managers can add
generations often viewed their jobs as value across the board.
something that would be permanent for Coming from a shipowning background
the rest of their lives. Times were harder myself, we run the company with a ship-
back then, or at the very least, different. owner’s mindset, because it's what we
Today, people may start a job while already know. I don’t say this with arrogance,
thinking about the next one. This is why but I do believe that we differ from other
patience is important. You must first ship management companies. We have
learn the ropes and find your role model. technical and crew departments, which
I wouldn’t be here myself if I didn't have are particularly difficult to run. At the
any role models. same time, we also run an entirely dif-
It is also essential to be curious and self- ferent company, V.Services, covering
aware. Ask yourself whether you have everything from engineering and pro-
truly understood something, whether curement to digital wallets, insurance,
you have created value for your organisa- travel, and more. We are offering a much
tion, or how well you’ve collaborated with broader package.
your colleagues. Lastly, think about where If shipping companies have
you would like to go. A lot of people come scale, their reach and capabili-
to me, expressing their ambition and aspi- ties can become boundless. The
rations. However, throughout my career, I reason why V.Group can attract
have learned that it is not my successes so many cadets is that we manage
that have contributed to who I am today, a pool of 44,000 seafarers. We can attract
but my failures. Life is imperfect, and more global graduates than we can hire
failure is part of the process. Young people on an annual basis because our presence
should accept that. Bear this in mind, be spans over 50 offices across the world.
patient, and doors will eventually open. The absence of scale means you cannot
Υoung people should also allow them- do everything by yourself, as shipowners
selves to try things outside of their com- have an endless list of tasks they have
fort zone. Only then will you find out to carry out apart from running their
whether you can handle new challenges, ships 24/7. Our capacity for growth
or whether you flew a bit too close and for handling unexpected surprises
to the sun and need to take a step back is completely different from that of a
and reflect. This applies to both people smaller shipping company.
at sea and those in shore-based roles. Ultimately, it is irrelevant whether you are
If you begin your career as a cadet, aspire a traditional shipowner in Greece. Many
to become a captain or a chief engineer. are now becoming more flexible and
Work hard to become what you aspire are starting to assess the benefits we
to be. Curiosity will give you the drive can offer. We play our part, and our global
to become better, maybe even to the network of colleagues is one of our most
point of surpassing your predecessors – valuable assets and a key competitive
especially given the tools and information advantage. Ultimately, it is up to us
available today. to prove that we are reliable partners.
28 NX
