By George Georgiou

 

 

Greek shipowners are the biggest “players” internationally in the tanker industry.

 

According to the latest annual report of the Hellenic Shipowners’ Association, they control 31.27% of the world’s oil tanker fleet and 15.79% of the chemical and petroleum product transport fleet. According to a research carried out by Xclusiv Shipbrokers, on behalf of Naftiliaki and presented at a recent conference, “Greek shipowners” are responsible for 25% of the international order book in the tanker market.

 

On the shipyard level, shipping sources told “Naftemporiki” that TMS Tankers recently returned to the Chinese shipyard Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry (Yangzhou) to build LR2 vessels.

 

More specifically, the shipping company has reportedly agreed on two ships, each with a capacity of 113,000 dwt, ensuring delivery times within the third quarter of 2026.

 

These are not the first TMS’s aframax/LR2 tankers at the specific yard, as last January it ordered three vessels of this type, while two months later it also agreed with Chinese yard New Times for two more.

 

The group implements an expanded shipbuilding program in all shipping markets. This year alone, it has ordered a total of 17 ships, worth more than 880 million dollars, according to data collected by “Naftemporiki” from various shipping sources and databases. This year’s contracts are divided into bulk carriers and tankers, while all will be built in Chinese shipyards.

 

Interesting deals, however, are also recorded in the secondary market, while Greek shipowners seem to be focusing on medium-sized vessels.

 

Initially, the Greek shipping brokerage Xclusiv Shipbrokers links, in its latest report, New Shipping with the acquisition of the suezmax Nobleway (capacity 164,028 dwt and built in 2010).

 

The price for the vessel reportedly amounted, according to the same sources, to 47 million dollars.

 

Moreover, it was reported in various shipping exhibitions that the LR1 tanker Leon Apollon (capacity 74,999 dwt and built in 2009) was sold to Greek buyers, for approximately 28.5 million dollars.

 

Greece re-elected in the Council of IMO for 2024-2025

 

Greece was re-elected in the first position of the Council under Category “A” of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for 2024-2025.

 

Category “A” includes countries with the largest interest in providing international shipping services.

 

Greece received 146 of the 166 total votes of the member states. The 10 Group “A” countries are: China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom and United States. For the first time this year, 11 countries claimed the 10 places in the “A” category, as Liberia also applied.

 

The Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, Christos Stylianidis, in his post on the internet said that this is an extremely important success of the country, which, as he said, confirms the trust and reliability of our country in the International Maritime Organization and in international shipping.

 

He added that with a high sense of responsibility, Greece will work towards the implementation of the IMO’s goals.

 

 

Stylianidis pointed out that it is a matter of high priority to align the EU legislation with the international standards adopted by the IMO, not only in the field of navigation safety, but also in the protection of the marine environment.

 

“Maritime transport is a well-established globalized industry,” Minister of Maritime Affairs, Christos Stylianidis, said in his intervention at the meeting of the EU Council of Transport Ministers, in Brussels.

 

During the meeting, the competent ministers approved the position of the Council (General Approach) for four legislative proposals, concerning the package of measures for the safety of navigation and the protection of the marine environment.

 

The Minister also briefed the Council on issues and concerns raised by the implementation of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme directive, stressing the need to maintain the competitiveness of EU shipping, including ports.