Merchant Marine Academy in Hydra

The National Merchant Marine Academy: The National Merchant Marine Academy of Hydra is the first naval academy in Greece. This academy was founded in 1749. It was first named Saint Nikolaos. The name was later changed to The Merchant Marine Academy of Hydra in the year 1800. In 1930, its name was again changed. It became the National Merchant Marine Academy. It still bears that name today.

Before the Greek revolution, there were Portuguese and Italian instructors who taught naval theory and languages at this school. Since 1930, the academy on Hydra has been in a manor, where Anastasios Tsamados and Athanasios Koulouras lived. The manor was given to the State to be used for the academy. The Naval Society of Hydra turned it into a private naval college in 1937. From 1940 to 1948.

The first boat that belonged to this academy was called Saint George of the fisherman Tsigaris. The second boat was called Electra and the third one was called Eugene Eugenidis. Due to the prestige of the academy, the 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 had 2,800 graduating captains on their rolls. The Professors here are famous for their papers on stars and astrophysics. This academy also provides training seminars for outside organizations.