Andreas, congratulations on EPSCO’s 30th anniversary! Looking back to 1995, what inspired you to found EPSCO, and what were your original hopes for the company?

Thank you Adoni!

I was working for a major marine supplier in the early 90’s but unhappy working in what I felt was a stifling corporate environment where the bottom line was more important than providing excellent service. The turning point for me was during a customer visit when a superintendent shouted at me from across their office that it had cost them less to fly a team from the UK to Rotterdam than to use our local service team to carry out a safety inspection.

This got me thinking that I should be providing solutions that benefited my customers, rather than selling a product.

I left and set up Epsco in January 1995 and I am not ashamed to admit that the first couple of years were incredibly tough. I had a tiny office, a fax and a PC. I could not afford air conditioning and as you know, summers in Cyprus can get very hot. So, I spent every day going out and knocking on doors. I had relationships with customers, but I had to prove I could do what I promised, and it took a while to gain their trust.

I never really had any intentions to grow the company beyond Cyprus, but 30 years later, we are still here. Still a relatively small company in the scheme of things, but we have four offices and our own FFE station in Rotterdam.

What were some of the most defining milestones in EPSCO’s development over the past three decades that helped shape the company we see today?

We were one of the first companies in the industry to introduce the concept of fixed fee fleet agreements for safety services in 2007. We have since been copied by much larger companies, but none have kept it as simple or effective as we have.

In 2008 and 2009 we opened our own sales offices in Hamburg and Singapore respectively and in 2021 we finally invested in our own service facilities and sales office in Rotterdam, completing 100% takeover this year.

In the last year, we have also undertaken a complete overhaul of all our management systems which gives us much better control and oversight of all our operations and allows us to improve our service to our customers.

As the shipping and marine safety landscape evolved, so did EPSCO. What has been your approach to staying ahead of industry trends and regulatory demands?

We have spent a small fortune on improving and automating our management systems that gives us a complete picture of customer preferences and buying trends to assess their needs. We have also implemented regular penetration testing as part of our cyber security regime to identify and address any vulnerabilities within our systems, ensuring they are resilient against the latest attack techniques.

We have developed relationships with regulatory bodies and pay close attention to all SOLAS/IMO updates and keep our customers updated at the same time.

Our senior personnel are in constant communication with manufacturers and developers of safety products for new innovative products.

Additionally, we have been active in seeking out and working with companies introducing new sustainable and green technologies that will also save them money on their fuel and carbon emissions.

 Running a company in a highly technical and safety-driven field like marine services is no small task. What do you believe has been the secret to EPSCO’s longevity and continued success?

I have never seen Epsco as a profit driven company. I’m more interested in being a solutions provider. As a result, we remain a small but very proactive team. Personal contact with customers is important. Regular face to face meetings are crucial, I have flown to Hong Kong and to Shanghai just for single meetings! Constant updates on services, letting your customer know what you are doing at all stages of a service, staying ahead of forthcoming regulations and advising our customers rather than trying to sell them something is our credo.

As an example, as from 1st January 2026, the IMO will ban all firefighting foams containing PFOS chemicals. This isn’t a simple matter of replacing one foam with another. Customers need to know if their existing foams are still compliant, if their foam tanks need decontamination, if their foam pumps need modification due to different viscosities of foam.

We spend a lot of time in meetings advising customers what they can expect under the new rules and how to comply without wasting huge sums of money.

You now have your daughters actively involved in the business. How does it feel to see the next generation stepping in and carrying forward the EPSCO legacy?

I am incredibly proud of my two daughters Maria and Loukia and the hard work they put into the company. Their knowledge of our services and our industry now far exceeds mine.

I have reached 65 this year and, in all honesty, I miss the days when everything could be agreed with a phone call and getting things done was less complicated.

So, it’s very gratifying to see them take the lead in developing the company to the next level, introducing new ideas and developing new relationships with our suppliers and customers.

My daughters tell me I’m a workaholic, but I will be very pleased to begin the process of slowing down in the full knowledge that the company is in very safe hands.

What values or guiding principles have you tried to pass on to them—not only as your children but as future leaders of EPSCO?

Very simply to treat everyone as you would wish to be treated. To have high standards, morally and ethically in all areas of your life. This is just as valid in your personal life as it is in business. Your name is more important than what you have in the bank.

Many family businesses struggle with succession planning. How have you approached this transition, and what role do your daughters currently play within the company?

Maria has been responsible for the day to day running of the company for some time, as well as taking the lead on several projects, including the new foam requirements, allowing me to be more of an ambassador for the company. Loukia is involved in sales and technical coordination. She is learning fast and is an excellent organizer.

They have put together a 5-year plan which we will put into effect over the course of the next year to ensure that the transition is carried out in stages and without any disruption to the company.

I will always be in the background to help when needed, but it’s important to allow them to fly on their own once they feel it’s time.

What fresh ideas, perspectives, or initiatives has the next generation brought into EPSCO so far? Are there any recent changes or developments that reflect their influence?

Maria was responsible for the purchase of our FFE station in Rotterdam and her plan is to expand on that with additional services from that location as well as to develop further stations in the future.

They took the initiative on revamping and improving our management systems and are developing relationships with new technology manufacturers as well as new customers around the world.

As Founder, what has made you most proud—not only in terms of business growth, but also in terms of impact on people, safety, and the maritime community?

That’s an interesting question!

I’ve never liked bragging about my company. I think you should stay humble and do the job you are asked to do, without getting a big head about it, unlike some of the posts I see on Linked In. I’ve always thought of us as just a little outfit in Limassol.

I am proud that we have made a difference in safety onboard and have on occasion even been responsible for some rule changes concerning service requirements.

I’m also very proud of my team and the fact that many of them have been with me from the early days.

But what always blows me away is SMM and the number of people from all over the world, suppliers and customers who come to see us over those 4 days. Even after 30 years, I am still incredibly surprised, but very honoured that our name has stretched to all these different countries.

And finally, with 30 years behind you and the future in good hands, what is your vision for EPSCO’s next decade, and what message would you like to share with your clients, partners, and staff on this important milestone?

My vision is to see my daughters lead the company to greater things that were beyond my capabilities!

My message to my customers is to thank all of them for their trust and for placing their vessel safety in our hands. Many of our customers have long term fleet agreements with us. I am honoured that my little company has been entrusted with this responsibility.

My message to my staff is a huge thank you for making this company what it is and to express my gratitude to all of them for their dedication, for all the late hours, the stress of getting things done at short notice, for never turning down a call at midnight or at 5 a.m. whenever a customer or a Captain calls.