George P. Livanos

George P. Livanos (9 August 1926 – 1 June 1997) was a Greek shipping magnate born in New Orleans, the son of Peter Livanos. He is often confused with distant relative George S. Livanos, the sole son of Stavros G. Livanos, a legend in Greek shipping.

Following World War II, Livanos served in the U.S. occupying army in Japan.^[1] He received a degree in economics from the University of Athens in 1946. In 1949, he founded his own company, Ceres Hellenic Shipping Enterprises. Shortly after, he inherited his father's 30-ship fleet, which included the world's five largest supertankers.

Livanos managed his business from Lausanne. With over 100 ships, his fleet was the largest merchant navy in Greece. He also created a shipping company, which pioneered fast ferry services between the Greek Isles, introducing coastal passenger hydrofoils on an extensive network of routes linking the mainland with nearby islands. For two decades, the services operated under the Ceres Flying Dolphins' brand name, became a household expression in Greece

Diversifying in latter years, he invested in real estate, and in banking with Basil Goulandris, another Lausanne-based Greek shipowner. In 1994, Livanos' fortune was an estimated 3 billion dollars.^[2] He was ahead of his time, as he had begun to heed warnings that abuse of the environment could destroy the planet and was involved in the protection of ocean and coastal waters. He founded the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA) in 1982.

Livanos married Fotini Carras, the daughter of the Greek shipowner Yiannis Carras, and had a son, Peter, and a daughter, Marina.^[3] He died in 1997, leaving his business to his son.

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