How war in Ukraine continues, hundreds of Ukrainian leaders shipping companies move to Hellas. Although it started as a temporary solution, determined both by the proximity of the two countries and by cultural factors such as Orthodoxy, it tends to take on the dimensions of a more permanent presence, shipping market sources say. Considering that hundreds of Greek shipping companies employ thousands of Ukrainian sailors, bridge officers and ship crews, migration now under the pressure of war, businessmen and businesses seems to be an obvious phenomenon. Moreover, Greece already has one of the largest and most developed shipping centers in the world, which serves the largest Greek-owned fleet in the world.

According to sources cited by the respected shipping review TradeWinds, it is estimated that more than 500 heads of Ukrainian shipping companies, including their family members, have settled in Greece. This development was reinforced by the actions of Greek shipping companies such as Neptune Lines and Technomar Shipping, which decided in the spring to financially and bureaucratically support the relocation to Greece of the families of seafarers working on their ships. OUR Melina Travlow, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Neptune Lines and Neptune Dry and Chairman of the Hellenic Association of Ship Owners, stated in mid-March that “our people are our priority and form the backbone of our group’s ecosystem. Wishing to express my compassion and solidarity with our 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 the extended Poseidon family, we support them.” Other groups are moving in the same direction, such as the Yuruku group, which controls Technomar Shipping, which actively supports the admission of hundreds of seafarers from Ukraine and their families. However, the first offices of Ukrainian shipping companies are already opening in Athens.

Maxim Khaulin, director of ship management at the Ukrainian shipping company Intresco, told the shipping magazine TradeWinds that “including families, I would say there are at least 500 people here.” Caulinus brought his children, wife, parents and company to Athens.

Following the crews and their families moving shipping companies and leaders.

A total of 75,942 Ukrainians arrived in Greece from the start of the war until last week, of which 19,760 are minors, according to data released by the Ministry of Citizens’ Protection. More and more Ukrainian immigrants coming to Greece, connected with shipping, become heads of enterprises. Most already know the country and have existing business ties or relationships with Greece, such as Aquavita International, a dry cargo charterer based in Ukraine, the same sources say. On the coast of Miauli there is a significant number of Ukrainian shipping companies that are either expanding their presence in Greece or expanding their existing ones, for example, Varamar.

The resettlement of leaders, sailors and their families, according to those involved, is also facilitated by the fact that the official Greek state is very friendly towards immigrants from Ukraine. Immigration services issue so-called temporary protection cards, which allow Ukrainian citizens to work, rent housing and travel freely around the country.

Such is the dynamics of the development of the Ukrainian maritime lobby in Greece that now many people are talking about the emergence of a “little Odessa” in our country.