In 1948 #Manuel_Kulukundis or #Manolis_Kulukundis #Kulukundis and his cousin #Basil_Mavroleon founded #London_and_Overseas_Freighters #LOF a dry cargo venture. The company was taken over by #John_Fredriksen of #Frontline , a Norwegian company, in 1997.
#Manuel_Kulukundis or #Manolis_Kulukundis #Shipping companies #Rethymnis & #Kulukundis #R_and_K and #Bull_Line saw controversy in the 50’s & 60’s for doing business with the communist countries. Manuel was among #Onassis and #Niarchos in shipping oil from the #Soviet_Union to #Cuba and #sugar the other way.
#Lend_Lease_Act_of_1941
#Manuel_Kulukundis or #Manolis_Kulukundis #Winston_Churchill #Franklin_Roosevelt
50 destroyers for a 99 year #lease on bases in the #Caribbean and #Newfoundland
archives.govLend-Lease Act (1941)
In 1940 #Manuel_Kulukundis or #Manolis_Kulukundis #Kulukundis moved to #New_York in an effort to persuade the US government to build 15 #Liberty #Ships for #Greece under the #Lend_Lease_Act_of_1941 . The #USA government agreed and a committee was formed to oversee the corporation, which worked for the Allied cause. Greece was allotted 100 ships. After the war 11 #Greek shipowners received vessels from this program as compensation of their losses during the war.
#Manuel_Kulukundis or #Manolis_Kulukundis #Kulukundis was instrumental in brokering deals between the British government in #London and the #Greek during WWII which allowed for the charting of Greek ships to the Allied cause. Manuel’s company chartered 15 ships to the Swiss government and 15 ships to the British Ministry.
#Manuel_Kulukundis or #Manolis_Kulukundis #Kulukundis was born on the island of #Kasos in November of #year_1898 and is the third generation of Kulukundis’ linked to #Shipping . His father was Elias. (Seems to be a family name) Manuel moved to #London after WWI spoiled his plans to attend college in Beirut. In 1921 Manual and childhood friend, #Minas #Rethymnis , founded the company #Rethymnis & #Kulukundis , which helped #Aristotle_Onassis , among others during his early years.
#Basil_Mavroleon remembers #Manuel_Kulukundis or #Manolis_Kulukundis who was inducted into the #Greek #Shipping #Hall_of_Fame in 2007. Mavrolen speaks of Manuel’s love for #art , his watercolour paintings, and his business skills. Mavrolen is also from a shipping dynasty hailing from #Kasos island, #Basil_Mavroleon was the cousin and business partner of Manuel. (Not the same Basil in the video.)
#Manuel_Kulukundis or #Manolis_Kulukundis was inducted into the #Greek #Shipping #Hall_of_Fame in 2007. Per Manuel’s nephew, #Elias_Kulukundis, Manuel was a self-proclaimed descendant of #Egypt #Slave #Traders and was proud of his heritage.
