Charalambos Mylonas, one of the biggest shipowners of Cyprus and former chairman of its shipowners’ union, has died.
The founder of Athens and Nicosia-based Transmed Shipping “contributed greatly to the growth of the Cyprus ship registry and leaves an indelible mark”, said Marina Hadjimanolis, the country’s deputy minister in charge of shipping.
Mylonas’ company celebrated its 50th anniversary a few months ago.
Alongside his wife Chariklia, Charalambos Mylonas was a trained lawyer practising in Famagusta. They lost everything they owned when Turkish troops occupied their town after invading Cyprus in 1974.
The couple thereafter set up Transmed and entered shipping by investing in a vessel owned by Thenamaris — a major Greek owner whose legal interests they used to represent.
Mylonas and his wife closed down their law office and began to concentrate fully on shipping in 1981.
Mylonas established the Cyprus Shipowners’ Association that year. It eventually evolved into the Cyprus Union of Shipowners, which he headed for more than two decades.
The first International Transport Workers’ Federation contract for seafarers on Cyprus-flagged ships “bears his stamp”, Hadjimanolis said.
Transmed, an owner of about 25 bulkers and tankers, is led by Chariklia Mylonas, daughters Nicole and Katerina and son-in-law Elias Angelakos.
Charalambos and Chariklia had always been inseparable, working side by side out of the same office.
