Since ancient times, the propagation of Cretan civilization was done by sea because Cretans were skilled mariners and traders. Crete was a major center of culture and development due to its societal structure and its marine trade. After the Venetian era of Chania with their impressive shipyards when the Ottomans came, these shipyards weren’t used anymore Ship repairs weren’t performed at the arsenals anymore. But shipwrights were still working within the city of Chania.
The repair of the ships was a dangerous work, since the shipwrights of the harbor of the port of Chania had to tow vessels of up to one hundred and twenty tons, with the means they had available at that time Shipwrights would use Pine wood from Samos to build a vessel. The trunks were processed with band saws. The shipwrights performed all the work of a new ship, the mast, engines, paint, bunk beds et cetera. Today, a walk to the lighthouse of the Venetian harbor of Chania cannot easily create the images of the past. The well-known shipyard worked by the Pariotakis family from 1870 to 2000, going through many difficult historical periods during these years. War and intense political changes affected all of Greece and inevitably Crete, creating a turbulent climate, controversy and poverty. These times were difficult but did not stop the work of the shipwrights. For three generations, the Pariotakis family worked in the shipyard, maintaining the tradition of the shipwrights, transferring the valuable knowledge of the profession that allowed the Greeks to roam the seas.