Philippe Louis-Dreyfus had second thoughts before sharing his explosive views on the merits of shipping companies using the capital markets.

Standing between Evangelos Marinakis and Paddy Rodgers at the TradeWinds Shipowners’ Forum, the diminutive owner said he would be kicked off the panel if he voiced his opinion.

Encouraged by Nikolas Tsakos that Greeks were hospitable, Louis-Dreyfus, an investment banker before “he became insane and joined shipping”, did not hold back.

“Now