Eleftheria Tiliakou, No Filter
The Municipal Authority’s attempt to cover up the failure to submit the application on time to the Ministry of Shipping for the Kalymnos Dolphin routes — by linking the docking to the vessel’s maintenance at the shipyard — was undermined the other day by the very President of ANEK himself, during a recent social media interview.
According to the President of the shipping company, it was a mistake caused by the staff’s ignorance, since they had not been informed by the employees who were dismissed… in other words, the Board of Directors bears no responsibility.
And yet, responsibility for this omission lies entirely with the administration. According to the Articles of Association of ANEK, as published on the website of the Central Union of Chambers of Greece, Article 27 paragraph 1 clearly states:
“The Board of Directors represents the company and is responsible for deciding on any act concerning the administration of the company, the management of its assets, and the pursuit of its objectives, and generally for any matter relating to the company.”
Furthermore, Article 34 of the Articles of Association provides the possibility for the Board to delegate part of its responsibilities:
“The Board of Directors may appoint as General Manager of the company a graduate of a higher economic school with sufficient experience in the company’s field of operations, for the fulfillment of its purpose and the supervision of its staff. The General Manager participates, without voting rights, in the meetings of the Board of Directors and performs the specific duties and responsibilities assigned to him by the Board. The General Manager may be partially or fully replaced in case of absence or incapacity by the company’s Deputy Manager, appointed by the Board. The Deputy Manager must be an employee of the company with knowledge of financial matters.”
Therefore, the Articles of Association foresee that the members of the Board of Directors may not necessarily be the most suitable or experienced individuals to carry out the company’s operational tasks.
Can we finally stop playing the game of “Becoming a Shipowner for One Term”? Why not entrust administrative responsibilities to qualified and experienced professionals? Shouldn’t ANEK function as a real joint-stock company instead of a family enterprise? How will it ever compete with other shipping companies operating in our region?
I wonder — is it really so undesirable for the company to become profitable? Wasn’t it the founder’s vision for ANEK to serve as a driving force for the development of the Northern Dodecanese?
Let’s get our act together, people…
