For 90 years, Anbros Maritime has delivered praise-worthy ship management and dry bulk transportation for customers worldwide. Now in its third generation of leadership, the Company continues to honour its rich legacy as it moves forward with innovation and its expertise at the helm. Directors George and Diamantis Angelakis discussed the Company’s journey, during an in-depth interview with Inside Marine. Report by Imogen Ward.
Anbros Maritime stands as a testament to the dedication and vision of three generations. Since its founding in 1934, the Company has operated successfully for 90 years, with each generation contributing to its development.
“Each generation has built upon the achievements of the previous one, driving Anbros towards its vision of continued success, while staying committed to its core values of quality, integrity and customer -focused service,” shared Director George Angelakis. “The first generation, brothers Georgios J. Angelakis and Nikolaos J. Angelakis, laid the Company’s foundation. They established a reliable and efficient business with a primary focus on quality and customer
satisfaction. This became the essence of Anbros’ reputation.”
Georgios’ son John G Angelakis joined the Company in 1975, bringing with him a new era of development. It was at this point that Anbros’ vision began to broaden, and the Company extended its presence further afield. This was achieved with Anbros’ swift entrance into the larger bulk carrier market.
“Our global presence cultivated robust partnerships with leading charterers and trading houses worldwide, ensuring it remained competitive in an ever-evolving international marketplace,” continued George. “Under our father’s leadership, Anbros was an early adopter of technological advancements and one of the first Greek family-owned
companies to have its accounts externally audited by one of the ‘big four’ auditing firms.”
It was this long-lasting legacy that inspired the third generation’s vision – one that is still materialising today.
In 2002, the third generation entered the family business, starting with John’s son, George, followed gradually by his siblings - Katerina, Diamantis, and Anastasia - after all had completed their studies at UK universities.
Not only are they honouring the foundations laid by their father and grandfather, but they are also propelling the Company forward in line with the objectives of modern shipping.
“We are continuing to acknowledge the Company’s rich legacy and values, while integrating sustainable practices and innovation into the Company’s strategy to meet the demands of the eco-conscious modern era,” explained Director Diamantis Angelakis.
Future-focused growth
Over the past 90 years, Anbros has owned and managed a fleet of more than 70 vessels (equalling a combined carrying capacity exceeding 1.3 million deadweight tonnes), to collectively transporting and delivering an estimated total of more than 60 million tonnes of cargo across the globe.
This notable figure includes grain, which is historically Anbros’ most frequently transported commodity – accounting for 35% of all its cargo.
As a testament of the quality of its management performance, the Company consistently achieves an average fleet utilisation rate of around 98%.
The sense of responsibility and respect to those achievements, helps Anbros remain focused and dedicated on building upon them and keep evolving alongside the rapidly changing market.
“Fleet expansion and renewal have remained an integral part of our growth and continuity strategy throughout our 90-year history,” remarked Diamantis. “Our primary focus today is on modern, eco-friendly vessels, ranging from Handysize to Kamsarmaxes. These vessels provide a competitive edge over older, non-eco fleets, especially in view of all the new environmental regulations impacting our industry. In light of
this, we see fleet renewal as a natural next step for our business and are working to determine the optimal timing to grow the fleet to a sustainable and optimal size. Through this approach, our goal is to improve our operational efficiency and address the growing demands of our customers.”
A sustainable path
Although fleet renewal is expected to play a prominent part in steering Anbros towards a greener future, it is just one component in a much larger strategy.
“As a Company with nine decades of experience in the shipping industry, we recognise that our long-term success is
responsibly and sustainably,” explained George. “That is why sustainability remains a central consideration as we navigate the evolving challenges of the maritime industry. We acknowledge the environmental responsibilities that come with shipping, particularly in areas such as fuel consumption, emissions and waste management.”
The Company fosters a culture of environmental awareness among both crew members and office staff, actively implements optimised voyage planning to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, promotes the use of greener fuels, and supports the transition to alternative energy sources whenever feasible.
When it comes to enhancing its footprint, the Company is also inspired by past accomplishments. Over a decade ago, back in 2011, Anbros partnered with its longterm charterer Cargill as part of its pioneering Green Era Initiatives. The partnership saw Anbros install a SkySails kite system onboard its Handysize vessel AGHIA MARINA. Despite the challenges faced during this project due to the operational limitations of the kite, Anbros remains committed to embracing innovation and collaboration. In addition to its environmental initiatives, Anbros places a strong emphasis on the wellbeing of its employees. This commitment is reflected in the impressive average employee retention rate of approximately 30 years, highlighting the Company’s success in fostering a supportive and loyal workplace culture.
Pivotal collaborations
The Company relies on a number of long-term, mutually-beneficial partnerships that have been developed on the basis of transparency, open communication and collaboration. These relationships have been pivotal in ensuring Anbros’ continued success and sit at the heart of its business philosophy.
“Our primary focus remains on continuing our shipowning legacy, which has been built on decades of dedication and expertise,” said George. “At the same time, we value the strong collaborations we have cultivated and are open to embracing new partnerships that align with our vision. This ensures we remain competitive, drive growth, and continue delivering excellence in the services we provide. By collaborating with investors or managing vessels from third parties, we adopt a flexible model that builds on our foundation, while embracing innovation and adaptability. This strategy enables us to navigate changing market demands, strengthen our position as a trusted partner in the global shipping iindustry, and ensure long-term sustainability and competitiveness.” n
