Minoan Lines

 

Minoan Lines was founded in 1972.  It is headquartered in Heraklion (Crete) and has been a proud member of Grimaldi Group since 2008. The company operates in the domestic market, offering connections between Crete (Heraklion, Chania) and Piraeus, Crete and Cyclades islands and acts as a GSA for the Grimaldi Group on the Adriatic Sea international routes between Greece & Italy.

It manages and operates a superior fleet of modern, environmentally-friendly and certified high-speed cruise and catamaran ferries in the Mediterranean region.

The company is recognized as one of the leading and constantly evolving companies in the shipping industry.  Through its loyal customer base with Minoan Lines Bonus Club awarded 16-year program, its strong presence and investment on web sales, social media marketing and advertising, the company has managed to build a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship with its customers.

The company has also acknowledged the importance of being socially conscious and has incorporated corporate social responsibility into the heart of its business.

Minoan Lines has also won several quality prizes involving its ecological vessels, services and professionalism by several prestigious organizations and accredited international institutions.  Among others, it has gained several significant Gold Awards and top distinctions:

  • Tourism Awards 2020: In the categories ‘’Travel’’ & ‘’Online Strategy’’.
  • Tourism Awards 2019: In the categories ‘’Branding/Public Relations/People Strategy’’ & ‘’Tourism’’.
  • Greek Hospitality Awards 2020 & 2018: ‘’Best Greek Coastal Shipping Company’’.
  • Lloyd’s List 2019 & 2016: ‘’Passenger Line of the Year’’.
  • ICAP Group: ‘’True Leader’’ 2019 & 2017 in ‘’Maritime Transport’’.
  • Superbrands 2018-2019 & 2016-2017: ‘’Best corporate brand name in the Greek passenger-shipping sector’’.

Embracing the philosophy of environmental awareness, Minoan Lines has long been committed to environmentally conscious practices and initiatives placing the utmost importance on the respectful treatment of the environment in which it operates. In fact, it is the first Greek Ferry company to install exhaust gas-cleaning technology (scrubbers) so as to comply with the new international regulations on harmful emissions, reduce its fleet CO2 footprint and in general improve Greek coastal green records.

Today, Minoan Lines has succeeded in fully satisfying the ever-growing needs and expectations of its customers by providing exceptional levels of quality service.  Given its vast experience and scale of business, the company’s main strategic plan for its development and growth remains the expansion of its commercial network, the strengthening of market share on existing routes and its operation on new ones, which will ensure its continuity and prosperity in the future.

 

www.minoan.gr

 

ANTONIOS MANIADAKIS
Managing Director

Antonios Maniadakis is the managing director of Minoan Lines. Following his Higher National Diploma as Master of First Class from the Hellenic Merchant Marine Academy, he graduated from the University of Plymouth (UK) with a Master of Science (MSc) in International Shipping.

In 1987, he started his professional career in Minoan Lines.  In 1997 he assumed the duties of Chief Shipping Officer, where he was in charge of the Fleet’s management and responsible for the sale of the old tonnage (12 ferries).

He was also the Head for the new ship-buildings which commenced in the middle of the 1990s, an enormous investment amounted to 900 million USD.

He served as Vice-President of Mediterranean Ferries from 2001 until 2002 and Chairman & Managing Director of Autovie Del Mare Maritime Way from 2003 until 2004.

In 2004, he was elected member of Minoan Lines BoD, while in January 2005 he was appointed as Managing Director, a position that he holds until today.

He has been characterized as the “Modernizer of the Greek Coastal Shipping”, “Top Manager” in his field for 2006 & 2007, while he was among the “Top Leaders in Greece” for 2011 according to distinguished Greek newspapers/shipping portals.

In 2008, he was honoured by the Panhellenic Union of Merchant Marine Masters for his significant contribution to Greek Shipping.

He is a member of:

  • The Hellenic Committee of RINA (Marine Classification Society)
  • The Italian-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce
  • The American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce
  • The Humanitarian Association “Doctors of the Aegean” Pagni University Hospital.