The origins of Hellespont‘s shipping activities date back to after the Second World War in Canada when the Canadian government began disposing of its war-built dry cargo vessels. In 1946 Phrixos B. Papachristidis, grandfather of the current chairman of Hellespont, acquired his first vessel – a coal-burning tween-decker of 4,700 dwt. Within a two-year period Papachristidis bought eight more ships ranging from 4,700 to 10,000 dwt. These vessels, operated by the newly formed Papachristidis Co., Ltd., based in Montreal, Quebec, were to fly the Canadian flag in world-wide deep sea tramp trades for the better part of the ensuing decade.