Chalkis Shipyards S.A. was first established in 1973 as Khalkis Shipyards. In 1986 it came under the control of the Hellenic Bank for Industrial Development (ETVA) and in 1989 it was leased for 10 years to AVLIS SHIPYARDS S.A., a company of the LELAKIS group.

In July 1998 ETVA announced National Public Outbidding Contest for the Sale of the Shipyard and a separate contest for the sale of the Floating Dock "AVLIS" which expired in August 1998. Finally in the first Contest only one offer was submitted that belonged to the up to that time lessee A. Lelakis which was the reason for the contest to be called unprofitable.

ETVA repeated the sale contest in November 1998 to end on the 6th of December 1998. In this contest three offers were submitted. One belonged to Lelakis Group, the other to Satasinopoulos Group and the third to the present owner of St. Ilias Group who overbid.

The Bank called the interested parties in a second round of bids in which the offers were based on cash payment and Mr. Ilias overbid with the amount of 3 billion. In addition to that three letters of credit (totally 1 billion)were submitted for the retaining of work positions, the implementation of investment projects etc.

Chalkis Shipyards were transferred to their present owner Mrs. S. Ilia in October 1999 and re-operated in the beginning of the following year since from April 1999 the works had been interrupted.