John Faraclas

John Faraclas

Shipping Analyst, Journalist & Shipping Journal Owner

All About Shipping

John N. Faraclas comes from Chios’ traditional shipping and seafaring families which have been involved in the shipping adventure for almost 700 years, in Russia, Greece, the UK, Bermuda, and the United States. Per family custom, he sailed aboard ocean-going cargo ships and has managed dry cargo tonnage for both his family and clients in the UK and Greece.

Faraclas has presented a significant number of lectures after being invited by universities and professional shipping associations, particularly in the UK, Panama, Denmark, Singapore, and Cyprus, and he has participated in more than 500 maritime exhibitions and 1,500 conferences.

His work in the industry has included involvement with the privatization of shipyards in Greece and the UK and he has lived in the UK since 1985, where he is now writing his memoirs.

He has also been involved with shipping journalism for thirteen years as an International editor of SHIPPING International Monthly Review, and since June 2011 with allaboutshipping.co.uk – where he is co-founder, and has also appeared on TV, 20 months with SBC TV as a Shipping Market Analyst as well as on Maritime Politics (CNBC).

Can you describe a typical day in your life, balancing your roles as a shipping analyst, journalist, and an online journal owner?

Late to bed, early to rise as news travel 24/7..  So up by 05:00 GMT or BST! Have a shower and exercise due to my bad back, neck and knees emanating from my army life and sports, and at the same time I organise my day (with “notes” in my mid and what I remember from last night) and make rehearsals . Coffee, a nice white Nescafee slightly sweet  which I have for nearly 55 years!!

Straight to my laptop with Anny at the other end talking on the days plans and or meeting in the City or at the West End. Reading the news and creating articles/stories. Checking how the site is doing and other priorities.

09:00 begin telconvs with people all over Planet Ocean. I know over 15,000 (yes you read correctly: fifteen thousand people), a great portofolio created over 55 plus years, believe it or not! That’s 11:00 down town Piraeus…

If I have a conference I am ff at 08:00 to make sure I am there at coffee time to network.

If opposite my laptop I have lunch at 13:00 GMT and thereafter a twenty minutes walk. I have to keep fit. I am over 72 years old, and this is a MUST, despite the weather conditions in London.

At 15:00 GMT we call USA to see how things…

We receive calls from the Far East too – mainly Singapore; some people we know have shifts so that’s fine timewise.

18:00GMT call the family for an hour. My family is in all five continents believe it or not. I have one of the biggest families from my fathers’ two marriages and my own three.

At 19:00 hours dinner and confer with Anny live and thereafter call others to make arrangements. If going out for business dinner that’s 19:30.

At 21:00 GMT a chat with a few people that I am their mentor.

Twice a week we have business lunch and business dinners.

All day long I listen to music, basically that of the 60’s and 70’s a just ten centum of the 80’s – 00’s…Music boost my moral! A few times I have to listen to special Classic Music.

I have a programme and work my programme. I learned this in the boarding school The Anargyrios and Corgialenios College of Spetses one of the ten best in the World! I also have shipping programe as I have sailed for a total of five and a half years.

N.B. Once a week before dinner be it M to F I do my ironing (shirts only) which gives me the opportunity to concentrate and think, plan and then execute tasks. I mention the word herein (in this sentence “concentrate” as otherwise I will ..burn or wrongfully iron my shirt- same applies for my dozens of appropriate selected ties) so I don’t want to look scruffy etc.. The appearance is important deriving from Robert Townsend’s book Up The Organisation: The three characteristics f a business man is:  Impressive Appearance, slow speech and lack of humour) !!

What are the key tasks and responsibilities associated with each of your roles?

Every single thing is a key task which to my mind corresponds and it’s interwoven with KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators). My responsibility is to create a pragmatic view on the Markets, Geopolitics and Life. My Life is my Role and my Role is my Life – you understand what I mean.

How did you reach the point you are at in your career today? What were the key steps, challenges, and decisions that shaped your journey?

Luck and circumstances. I emanate from one of Planet Ocean’s biggest Families with Traditional Shipowners and Seafarers from both side of my Family. I come from the Island of Chios which undoubtedly Rules the Seven Seas’ Waves; full stop and period. I begun my office career at my late godfather’s Law office (Christopher A. Margaronis Law offices) at a time the biggest in Piraeus – eleven offices today come from Lawyers from this office after he passed away. Christopher A. Margaronis was one of the 36 (thirtysix) first cousins of my Mother and also a shipowne from her Mother’s side.. With his brother Pandelis – a close friend of my Father (small world) they had after New York an office in Bermuda. In Bermuda also they represented P & I Clubs when same left London being legaly attacked by the Treasury for tax reasons- same happen the same year 1958 in New York for tax reasons against the Greeks !!! My father was a Ship’s Master and then he attended the newbuilding programme of the Margaronis company in Japan. My father was torpedoed / sunk by the Nazis when he was a chief mate at Chandris’ tweendecker the “Tony” and survived. He was a relative of the Chandris from his mother side, being a Georgandis. All his brothers were seafarers, masters the two elderly ones and cook/steward his young one. Seeing and living in this environment I embarked in the shipping adventure, obtain a seaman’ book and begin studying in Piraeus Shipping College and then come over to UK to study more issues and work too!!! Visited shipyards, ports whenever a ship from the family or friends Chiot compatriots was over to attend her berthing, dry-dock, loading /  discharge you name it and in combination from my 15 – to 20 years old three months training it made me a very well know and in demand person. In the Army I was commanding also chartering of ships. Can’t say more on this!! Shipping in all aspects is the most well paid profession. Always there despite ups and down as without Shipping, No Shopping and no Sipping… As I couldn’t become a Ships Master due to myopia, all the above shaped me in becoming a Ships’ Manager at the age of 25 of four vessels 12,600 to 22,500 dwt – two tweendeckers and two bulkers!!  AND  then a competitive ships Sales and Purchase broker with Overseas Agency and then on my own. Also involved to take over the Skaramanga Shiyeards in Greece – all the above are documented and in International newspapers.

What skills you find essential as a shipping analyst and as an entrepreneur?

Knowledge is not just power, it’s execution for both as an analyst as well as an entrepreneur. After Shipmanagement I become a Ship’s Sale & Purchase broker (mention above) and sometime shipfinance broker in one of the top offices in Greece and worldwide. Discipline from the Family, School, College, Army and University greatly assisted and created my success story. I have made in writing predictions that no one has ever made, predicting the crisis of the Shipping Markets and all this is on canvas!!!!! I am very proud of this as I never fouled a client, my students and my Family.

What do you find most satisfying about each of your roles?

Both are satisfying. I see my roles not as jobs but as hobbies. You love your hobby, correct? !!!!!

Can you share a moment or achievement from each role that stands out to you?

As an Analyst, indeed the prediction of the Markets. As an entrepreneur the acceptance of the company in the media world, particularly as I live abroad. This is beyond the Greek closed circles where people do not see out of the media box!! I have been recognised and elected Mister WISTA  UK in 2019 for my contribution to Shipping and for my support to Women in Shipping (Due to COVID, I held this … triumph until 2023, with the next winner being the IMO Secretary General!

What are the biggest challenges you face in juggling these multiple roles?

The toxic public which cannot accept my success and my silence worked in reply to the way they tried to challenge me. Being also in a public school and having a good upbringing, I knew how to tackle them and also the media (Including live TV and Radio appearances gave me the floor to ridicule them in a nice way at the most appropriate time.

How do you overcome obstacles such as time management and role-specific demands?

As said, what I do is a hobby, a love affair as with Anny we travel all over the World, something none of our “counterparts” (we don’t have competitors as such) can do as we are flexible and we set the rules of the game. Patience is a virtue and using patience and hard work coupled with knowledge we go ahead. We love what we do!

What educational background and skills are crucial for succeeding?

Private School in Paleon Faliro (The Hadjikonstantinou) including kindergarten, then AKSS (Anargyrios and Corgialenios College of Spetses), Piraeus College of Shipping Studies (possibly one of the best in the world, then City of London Polytechnic in London’s Moorgate district (at the heart of the Square Mile seeing all Shipping people and entities, including business clubs and associations, hundreds of seminars, conferences and exhibitions. Best Schools: The Law Office and the five and a half years at Sea. Also, Shipyards. Needless to say, once again the Armed Forces which unfortunately I cannot disclose anything more.

What additional knowledge or experience would you recommend gaining?

Socialising is a great experience among the top echelon all over the world. When, as said you have Family Members all over the world and you spend summer holidays in Bermuda, or in The Bahamas where my sister lived, or in South Africa where my brother lived, both having other halves in International and well known Business entities… Luck, sheer luck but you go for it! Sports , business sports are essential. Attending conferences all the time, it is not the CPD hours they give you, is how you use the time and the people you meet. Surrounded by beautiful and ultra educated women was a plus in an ethical way!

Throughout your career, what are the most valuable lessons you’ve learned in each of your roles and how have these lessons influenced your approach to your work today?

Not to trust people in all roles. If you help people one day they will stub you from behind when they don’t need you … Bad manners and jealousy. I call all these people Business Hooligans.

What drives your passion for each aspect of your career?

Success and Fun. If you are not in business for Fun of profit what the hell are you doing here! This is the subtitle of the Book : Up the organisation!!! I am also a scholar of Plato and Aristotle – both have helped me a lot!!!!!!

How do you maintain a healthy balance between your professional and personal life?

I close the laptop and engulf my wife and family and vice versa! Very few people can have their wives 24/7!!!!

What trends or developments in the maritime industry are you currently most excited about and how do you see these impacting your work and the industry as a whole?

The Environment and hope people understand that only nuclear will bring net Zero. I have moderate international panels on these issues and written a lot and say a lot live on TV and Radio. I provoke people who have a different view, no matter how “famous” they are to come live on TV!!

What opportunities and challenges do you foresee?

I am just over 72 years old and still maintain the fact that modern ship construction and the environment as well as Wars are great opportunities. Never forget: War Father of All; if you don’t destroy, you cannot rebuild. This is the pitiful message from History. – The product of the second World was the long period time charters of the 50’s/60’s and70’s to rebuilt the world; any objection?

What one piece of advice would you offer to young professionals looking to enter the maritime industry in any of your fields? How can they best position themselves for success?

You must have your Family 100 centum with you. Go, whatever you study on Shipping, at sea. A must, the must for success. Knowledge is not just Power, its sheer execution!!!

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I should have become a Maritime lawyer, but anyway, no regrets as I have won international well-known cases for myself and clients.