HYDRA HAS THE WORLD'S OLDEST MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY

 

 

On the island of Hydra, there is a stately mansion that houses the world’s oldest merchant marine academy.

 

For thousands of years Greek islanders for the Aegean and Ionian seas sailed seeking their fortune on the water that was sometimes denied to them on land.  Especially when the Greeks suffered under foreign rule, a four-century period under the Ottomans and the Venetians, and in the Ionian Sea by the British and French that had conquered the islands.

 

So slowly but steadily a great fleet was built that made Greek navigation the largest in the world.  Hydra is perhaps the best example of the above. 

 

The National Merchant Marine Academy was founded in Hydra in 1749 and it was first named St Nicolas.  The name was later changed to National Marine Academy.

 

Before the Greek revolution, Portuguese and Italian instructors taught naval theory and languages at this school.  Since 1937, the Naval Academy was turned into a private naval college.  The first boat that belonged to the academy was called St George, the second was called Electra and the third Eugene Eugenides after the great Greek entrepreneur, shipping magnet and patriot.

 

Due to the prestige of the academy, naval cadets are allowed to go on container ships as crew in order to get practical experience.  The compulsory service for the students amounts to four years.  This academy has 2.800 graduated captains on their rolls.

 

The professors are perfectly trained and are famous for their knowledge in astrology and astrophysics.  This academy also provides training seminars for outside organisations.