Greek Shipping Legend, Philip Embiricos, Dies at 78

Greek shipping magnate Philip Alexander Embiricos Coumoundouros died peacefully in Paris on November 20. He was 78 years old.

Embiricos was the director of Embiricos Shipbrokers UK, served as President of BIMCO from 2007-2009, and was for many years on the Executive Committee of Intertanko as well as Lloyds Register Technical Committee.

Embiricos was a qualified naval architect. He was renowned on the shipping conference circuit, offering great insight to the technical and commercial value of ships. Embiricos was  always thinking ahead as to the consequences of what the next regulation would bring to the market. Embiricos was a member of the Baltic Exchange since 1979.

Philip Embiricos Considered Expert on Panama Canal

A knowledgeable authority on the workings of the Panama Canal, Embiricos published “The Panama Canal and Its Expansion” in 2006. Embiricos’ passion for the industry will be remembered as will his smile when he challenged those less informed offering their unqualified opinions.

With extensive experience in the tanker industry, Embiricos involvement in shipping industry regulatory matters spanned more than 25 years. He sat on multiple boards and committees including the Panama Canal Advisory Board, the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), Executive Committee and Board of Directors, Lloyd´s Register Technical Committee, the Euromed Marseille Ecole de Management School Steering Committee and the Maritime Industry Foundation.

Throughout his career, Embiricos focused on improving the environmental footprint of global shipping, he wrote several books and earned a Bachelor´s degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Durham, as well as a Master´s degree in Shipping Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The qualified shipbuilder, Embiricos was well known in the shipping market for his excellent advice on the technical characteristics and commercial values ​​of ships, and he always thought in advance of the implications that the coming regulations would have for the market.

He is survived by his wife, his daughters Nitza Logothetis and Adriana Embiricos-Coumoundouros and his grandchildren. Embiricos’ daughter Nitzia Logothetitis is Greek-American, Founder and Executive Chairwoman of the Seleni Institute.

Adriana Embiricos-Coumoundouros is the director of AOOA Investments Ltd. based in Montreal Canada.

Due to the pandemic, his funeral took place in Geneva and was attended only by his close relatives. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Embiricos Hospital on the Greek island of Andros.