VARDIS Vardinoyannis, one of Greece’s most prominent industrialists and shipowners, has died in Athens at the age of 90.

He had led the Vardinoyannis clan for a half-century, following the death of one of his brothers, Nikos, in 1973.

Vardinoyannis was born into a Cretan family and began a career as an officer in the Hellenic Navy.

The family’s business initially centred on oil trading and supplying fuels to ships but rapidly spread to acquiring tankers, which initially traded under the Varnima brand.

By the early 1970s, the family had embarked on what would be its signature investment, the establishment of the Motor Oil refinery in Corinth.

After Nikos’ death from a heart attack, Vardis and younger brother Theodore, who died in 1996, took the reins of the group and further expanded its footprint in shipping.

The family also diversified into numerous other businesses, including but not limited to petrol stations, banking, hotels, media and football.

Together with his late wife, Marianna, a Unesco goodwill ambassador for the protection of children, he was also noted for his philanthropic activities.

In 1990 he survived a rocket attack by a Greek urban terrorist gang, thanks to the delivery of an armoured limousine just days earlier.

Today the family’s involvement in shipping continues to be a multi-faceted one, including shipowning, chartering, bunkers and lubricants, among other activities.

Flagship company Avin International operates a fleet of about 30 tankers, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence data.

These include the suezmax Kriti Future (IMO: 9924326), the first tanker worldwide classed as ammonia-fuel ready, which was delivered in 2022.

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