We spent one day at Spanopoulos Shipyards and found it to be the largest and most up-to-date shipyard in Greece. Report by Gerasimos Gerolimatos for Skipperondeck.gr
With international collaborations, a wide range of activities and accumulated know-how make it one of the most remarkable Shipyards in the Eastern Mediterranean.Spanopoulos Group is the culmination of a 30-year successful activity in the area of marine works and the supply of shipping services in general. The story of Mr. Ignatios and Mr. Michael Spanopoulos is a classic story of hard work leading to success. They started its development as a family business 30 years ago with small seeds and a vision of success and great expectations to be established in the maritime field. The beginning became by offering reliable services with tugboats and launches in the vessels that approached the port of Piraeus.
Nowadays they have managed to develop a broad sphere of marine activity throughout the Mediterranean region that includes: development of harbors and marina, building and repair of tugs, barges and specialty vessels; cable, pipe laying, salvage and diving operations; and shipbuilding; ship repair services and yacht services.
The Shipyards
Considering shipyard’s services, Spanopoulos Group operates in two separate bases at the moment and a third one in Elefsis which is under construction. Elafsis shipyard will occupy an area of 82.000 square meters and it is going to be equipped with floating docks over 200m.
The first unit is located in Salamis island, it occupies an area of 40.000 square meters and can accommodate 30 dry-dock vessels ranging from 35m to 120m, and approximately 25 moored boats. Having a 4,000-ton floating dock it may provide all shipbuilding and repair services to megayachts, all kinds of commercial ships as well as upgrading of our clients’ fleets, under the guidance and supervision of our naval architects, mechanical engineers and technical department.
(L-r) Mr. Ignatios Spanopoulos, President & Managing director and Mr. Michael Spanopoulos, Vice President
New unit at Perama
The second unit, which is officially operative since February 2014, occupies an area of 16.500 square meters while among the benefits includes a cafeteria, gym, library, roof garden and accommodation for the crews. The purpose of the new yard, with the newest and most modern 820t Travel lift in the East Med, constructed in 2016, is to provide all kind of services, exclusively to luxury yachts from 25 to 65 meters, that include among others, hauling – launching, routine maintenance and repairs, refits and paint jobs. “Ambition of Spanopoulos Group is to create a unique prototype unit for pleasure yachts in the Mediterranean area.” Όπως μας λέει η Labrini Betty Gkika, Business & Development Manager at Yachting Department.
Christos Spanopoulos
Harbor & Marine Construction
Spanopoulos Group is a leading contractor in the marine construction field all over the Mediterranean Sea. During the last 35 years, the Group has developed a considerable expertise by completing more than 400 projects in Greece and abroad, including:
Harbor & Marinas Construction, Dredging, Breakwaters & Coast Protection, Caissons & Concrete Elements Installation, Offshore Foundation Works Geotechnical Researches Underwater Pipes & Cables Laying and Repair.
During our visit, we had the opportunity to see a 53m long and 17m wide trimaran Galaxy at the Dry Dock of Salamis
Marine environment protection
The company operates and manages a fleet of port tugs, salvage tugs, AHTS, self-propelled floating cranes, support vessels, and other crafts units, fully equipped with modern towing, salvage, fire-fighting equipment. Moreover our salvage tugs are carrying a wide range of salvage equipment including salvage pumps, submersible pumps, generators, welding, cutting, patching, fire-fighting and diving equipment. Captain and crew are backed up by dedicated teams of salvage masters, engineers and divers as well as the necessary mobile salvage equipment in a round-the-clock readiness.
Last but not least, it shall be stressed out that all tugs are regularly inspected by marine warranty surveyors like Noble Denton Associates, Bureau Vogtschmidt, guaranteeing the highest industry standards and that Consortium Spanopoulos Salvage Tugs is a member of the ISU (International Salvage Union.
Maria Giannaraki, Chief Accountant
Lamprini Betty Gkika, Business & Development Manager at the Yachting Department
International Standards
Both Salamis and Perama shipyards operate under the international ISO 9001:2008 standards including all kinds of specialties in house by our highly trained and experienced technical staff and modern equipment.
The Underwater projects
Spanopoulos operates with efficiency & high standards of professionalism to underwater projects, repairs and oceanographic – hydrographic services. Laying and repairing all kinds of pipes – cables (power supply cable, communications, water supply and sewage system). Using cutting-edge technological equipment and abiding by the strictest safety regulations, we have become pioneers in the field of underwater projects. Spanopoulos handle underwater surveys (inspections, videotaping, photographing, oceanic hydrography), underwater welding and cutting, laying and repairing of pipes and cables and construction.
Maria Karageorgou, QA/HSE Manager
3rd from left: Nikolas Katsoulis, Shipyard Manager, with his team at Perama Premises
Salamina Premises
photos: Christos Petropoulos/Skipper ONDECK
