Dimitri Capaitzis, former president of Femas, dies at 88

Greek shipping technical legend served with R&K as well as C. M. Lemos before becoming a consultant who was involved with more than 150 newbuildings spanning the growth of modern Greek shipping

Source: Imperial College London Dimitri Capaitzis graduated in mechanical engineering from Imperial College in London in 1955.

DIMITRI Capaitzis, a technical legend of the Greek shipping industry, has died in Athens, his office has announced. He was 88.

Known to many as ‘Micky’, his early career coincided with the dynamic rise of Greek shipping, mostly based in London, during the years after the Second World War.

This was the foundation for an unsurpassed knowledge of the design and operational developments of modern tramp shipping that Mr Capaitzis was always delighted to share, through regular scholarly papers, speeches, conference interventions and personal conversation that was always enlivened by his sparkling humour.

Born into the resident Greek community in Alexandria, Egypt, he graduated as a mechanical engineer from Imperial College, London, and was the first Greek alumnus of the college to go into shipping, initially as an apprentice at Newcastle Shipyards and at sea.

Between 1958 and 1975 he served as superintendent engineer with two of the leading London Greek shipping firms of their era Rethymnis & Kulukundis and subsequently C. M. Lemos.

As a consultant in London and Piraeus, he acted for various clients in a wide range of shipping, technical and legal work. But contracting, planning and supervision of newbuildings remained a key focus.

By 2009 he could look back on being involved with more than 150 newbuildings and seven conversions as a consultant, spanning shipyards in 13 different countries.

Mr Capaitzis was a former president of the Hellenic Marine Technical Consultants Association and from 2011 to 2013 he served as president of the Federation of European Maritime Associations of Surveyors and Consultants (Femas).

In later years, he retained his zest for passing on his experience to others.

Letters to leading reputable Greek newspapers showed his concern that historic personalities of the industry and essential chapters in its history should not go forgotten.

These and his industry papers showed a vivid interest in history and culture that went beyond shipping, but the maritime industry remained his passion.

Mr Capaitzis was a strong supporter of developing an organised marine cluster in Greece and in addition to being a fellow and member of many engineering and technological institutes he was a member of the Piraeus Association of Maritime Arbitrators.

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