Economou Group of Companies was founded by the late Constantine Economou in Constantza, Romania in 1920. Since the company's formation, the Group has been active in the shipping services sector, including ship supplies, crewing, ship repairs and travel services as well as being a shipping and forwarding agency, which remains the main area of business today. After the war and the establishment of communism in Romania, the company was forced to cease operating in Romania, and in 1950 re-established its operations in Piraeus. Following the major political changes of the late 1980's, N.C. Economou & Co Shipping Agencies decided to respond to new market opportunities opening up in Eastern Europe. This move towards building an international profile was spearheaded by the formation of E.I.S.A. --Economou International Shipping Agencies-- in 1990, which successfully expanded and penetrated in the emerging markets of former eastern block countries. Today, E.I.S.A. offers comprehensive agency and logistics services for the Eastern Mediterranean, the Black Sea countries, and Russia. Our skilled, trained and experienced personnel of 300 operates through an efficient and expanding network of wholly owned subsidiary offices located in many of the key ports and cities in the region.

EISA Network and its operations

From its Piraeus headquarters the Group co-ordinates its international shipping business through a comprehensive network located in the following major ports and cities.

GREECE: All ports
RUSSIA: Moscow, Novorossiysk, St Petersburg, Temryuk, Primorsk, Murmansk, Tuapse
UKRAINE: Kiev, Odessa, Ilyichevsk, Mariupol, Yuzhny, Theodosia, Nikolaev, Dnepropetrovsk
ROMANIA: Bucharest, Constantza, Agigea.
BULGARIA: Sofia, Varna, Bourgas
GEORGIA: Tbilisi, Poti, Batumi *, Supsa
TURKEY: Istanbul
CROATIA: Omisalj
* Notice: Serviced through Poti.

Operations are often supervised by one of our own supercargoes promptly sent on site from the closest E.I.S.A. branch. The fact that all E.I.S.A. subsidiaries are fully owned, means we can select personnel against our chosen criteria and ensure the implementation of our work policy and methods. Staff are chosen for their professionalism, first hand experience in sea-going or shore based marine services and support sectors and knowledge of English. Although each person is trained to internationally recognised standards, the majority of our staff are recruited from the local community, allowing them to use their contacts, influence and knowledge of the area and local reality to the benefit of our principals.

Sophisticated communications systems play a vital role in our operations. Although telecommunications systems in the area can sometimes be problematic, we have overcome this difficulty through substantial investment in the latest communications technology. Therefore, no matter where the ship or the cargo is located, we can provide clients with a constant two-way flow of accurate information, continuously monitored from our central operations centre located in Piraeus. As a progressive organisation, we are constantly looking for ways to develop and continually improve our services so as to meet the current and future needs of our regional and international clients.