Dimitri John Chandris was a Greek shipowner who established Chandris Line, a large passenger shipping line, with his brother Anthony Chandris. Dimitri Chandris was the eldest son of John D. Chandris, a prominent Greek shipowner.
Early life
Dimitri Chandris was born in Chios to a wealthy family, son of Ioannis D. Chandris, a prominent ship-owner, and his wife Evgenia. In 1915, John Chandris had purchased his first ship, the S/S Dimitrios, and founded Chandris. Following the outbreak of World War II, Dimitri Chandris relocated from Chios to London with his family, joining a large number of other ship-owning families from Greece. All of his ships were requisitioned by the UK government to assist in the war effort.
Post War
At the end of the war, Dimitri set about reconstructing the family business almost from scratch. He had no alternative but to remain in the U.K. because, although the war might have ended in Europe, Greece became embroiled in a civil war. Greek shipowners, therefore, elected to operate in either of the then two great maritime centres of London and New York. In 1950, he was elected on to the Board of the Union of Greek Shipowners. He also served as their vice president from 1960 to 1964. . During the 1960s and 1970s, he was very active with various business interests in Greece including the establishment of the Alpha beer brewery, a large motor franchise based on Rootes cars and a substantial hotel group. He was also involved in several charities including establishment of the School of Maritime Engineering in his home island of Chios.
Shipping Career
Prior to the outbreak of World War II, Chandris operated six vessels: the passenger ships Dimitrios, Chimara and Corte II, and the steamers Dimitrios II, Vlassios and Eugenia. In the years following 1945, Dimitri and Anthony Chandris began to develop Chandris into the largest Greek passenger shipping firm. In 1945, Dimitri Chandris led the acquisition of Charlton Steam Shipping Company Ltd., which operated a fleet of passenger vessels from headquarters in Newcastle. This purchase signalled the beginning of the Chandris Group’s concentrated expansion efforts around passenger travel. Recognising the urgent need to provide passenger ships for displaced peoples and refugees in post-War Europe, the Chandris Group purchased the Prince David and Prince Robert from the Canadian Royal Navy in 1945. Following rebuilding and conversion, the new vessels were leased by the Chandris Group to the International Refugee Organisation. More intensive expansion efforts were undertaken from 1959, after which the Chandris Group acquired several large passenger ships, notably the RMS Bloemfontein Castle, the Bretagne, and the SS Lurline.
Chandris Line
In 1950, Dimitri Chandris was elected on to the Board of the Union of Greek Shipowners, later serving as the organisation’s Vice President from 1960-1964. By the 1970s, the Chandris Group had developed multifarious activities moving into tankers and tramp ships as well as passenger and cruise ships. By 1976, Chandris had the largest passenger-cruise ship fleet in the world, surpassing the records held by major companies such as Cunard and Union-Castle. An editorial feature in Lloyd’s Review praised the recovery and renaissance of the Greek shipping sector, led by companies and individuals from Chios, writing: “It is not surprising, therefore, that a name often mentioned with Greek shipping – Chandris – was born in Chios. Nor is it surprising that the most successful passenger ship operator in modern times should be Chandris.”
Death
Having been resident in London since World War II, Dimitri Chandris returned permanently to Greece in July 1980 to work and focus on the hotel group he established. Shortly following his return to Greece, Dimitri was involved in a boating accident. He was transferred to The London Clinic for medical care but died following an operation. Dimitri was buried in the Chandris family chapel next to the church of Agios Vlasios in Kambos, Chios.
Other Ventures
Outside of shipping, Dimitri Chandris was involved in a number of other business ventures, establishing a large automotive franchise, a brewery and a substantial hotel group.
