Piraeus is the gateway of Greek shipping. It is one of the busiest passenger ports in Europe, a major container and cruise hub, and the historic home of the Greek shipowning community, whose offices stretch from Akti Miaouli along the harbour to the southern suburbs of Athens. For maritime companies with a problem that has a Greek dimension, a private investigator in Piraeus who understands the sector can make the difference between a claim that stalls and one that is resolved.
The office of Petros Drolias, licensed private investigator in Athens since the early 1990s, has handled more than 1,500 cases in 14 countries. Our office near Omonia is a direct metro ride from Piraeus on line 1, and we work in the port, the surrounding municipalities and at clients' premises whenever a case requires it.
Maritime investigations in Piraeus
The shipping cluster around Piraeus brings together owners, managers, charterers, brokers, suppliers, P&I correspondents, insurers and lawyers. The cases they bring to us are rarely simple, and they often involve parties in several countries.
Cargo and bunker issues. Shortages, contamination and theft, where the facts ashore need to be established quickly and witnesses traced before they move on.
Chartering and sale disputes. Verifying counterparties that may be shell companies, tracing brokers or principals who have stopped responding and identifying assets recorded in public registries.
Ship supply irregularities. Inflated or phantom supplies and kickback arrangements between suppliers and staff, investigated together with the company's auditors.
Crew-related incidents. Locating and approaching former crew members and other witnesses, documenting circumstances ashore and supporting the lawyers handling the matter.
Leaks and counter-surveillance. Chartering terms and sale and purchase negotiations are commercially sensitive. When information leaks, we investigate the source and sweep offices and devices for surveillance equipment.
For more detail on how we work with the sector, see our page for shipping companies and our corporate investigations service.
Beyond shipping
Piraeus is not only a port. It is a large city with its own neighbourhoods, from Kastella and Pasalimani to Neo Faliro, Keratsini, Nikaia and Perama, and a busy commercial life. We handle the full range of private and business cases here: relationship and family matters, inheritance disputes, debtor tracing, theft and fraud affecting local businesses and litigation support for lawyers practising before the courts of Piraeus.
The ferry terminals also make Piraeus the starting point for the Aegean islands and Crete. When a case leads from the port to an island, we follow it, working through our network of collaborators where a local presence is needed.
When a vessel is only in port briefly
Port calls are short, and evidence connected with a ship can leave with it. If witnesses are on board or a cargo issue needs documenting ashore, time is critical. Tell us the vessel's schedule at the first contact, and we will plan the work around it, coordinating with your agents, surveyors and lawyers so that nothing is duplicated and nothing is missed.
The same applies to people. Seafarers sign off and fly home, brokers travel and company staff change jobs. Tracing a witness a few days after an incident is far easier than tracing them months later, when proceedings have already started.
Working discreetly in a close-knit community
The Greek shipping world is large in tonnage but small in people. Reputations travel fast, and a clumsy enquiry can damage a client's standing across the market. We work quietly, keep the client's name out of the picture and choose our sources with care.
All our work is lawful. Under Article 19(3) of the Greek Constitution illegally obtained evidence is inadmissible, Article 370A of the Penal Code criminalises illegal interception and recording, and the GDPR and Law 4624/2019 govern personal data, including that of seafarers. Maritime disputes are often decided in arbitration or in foreign courts, where the way evidence was gathered will be examined closely. Lawful methods are the only ones that hold up.
What you receive
Each assignment ends with a structured written report in English: a summary, a chronology, the methods used, sources and supporting material such as photographs taken in public places and witness details. It can be shared with your board, your P&I club, underwriters or your lawyers in Piraeus, London or elsewhere, and the investigator can give evidence if required.
Contact us about a Piraeus matter
The first consultation is free, confidential and without obligation. Call us 24/7 on 210 321 2200 or 699 321 2200 (+30 from abroad), or write through our contact page. We can meet at your office in Piraeus, at our office in Athens or by video call.