It is with profound regret that the executive committee of the Institute of Energy for SE Europe, announces the premature death of Mr. George K. Spanos, founder member and member of its board of directors. George Spanos, who was an active member of the Institute, passed away suddenly last Friday, August 26, while undergoing medical examinations in an Athens hospital.
George Spanos was the founder and managing director of Spanos Maritime and Trading group of companies, set up in 1972, acting both as ship owner and shipping agent. Having specialised in oil transportation and special cargoes (LNG, chemicals), George Spanos had extensive experience and knowledge in shipping operations with emphasis in the SE Mediterranean region, the Black Sea, the Volga and the Danube. Furthermore, George Spanos had an excellent grasp of the operation and machinations of the worldwide oil market having extensive contacts and business interests on both sides of the Atlantic. In that sense George was an invaluable source of information and a willing contributor of ideas and advice and will therefore be much missed both at the Institute and by Greece’s broad energy and shipping community. However, it was George’s unique character, his smooth approach to matters in hand and his high ethical standing and willingness to contribute and help a host of good causes that made him really attractive to anybody who had the good luck to meet him.