By Antonis Tsimplakis

Greece once again proved its international leadership in shipping, with 17 individuals included among the 100 most influential personalities of 2025 in global shipping, according to Lloyd’s List.

In first place, Lloyd’s selected US President Donald Trump, who “influenced international shipping more than anyone else in 2025, through a storm of events that could have been written in a novel,” as it noted.

1. Regarding Greek representation, for another year the largest Greek shipowner, Maria Angelicoussis, ranked first among Greeks and eighth overall. The Angelicoussis Group completed the acquisition of a fleet of 18 shuttle tankers for 1.8 billion dollars.

2. Vangelis Marinakis ranked tenth globally and second among Greeks. The Capital Group has invested significantly in LNG carriers and innovative vessels, such as the world’s largest liquefied CO₂ carriers, as well as in a substantial number of containerships.

3. In third place among Greeks and 13th overall is George Economou of TMS Group. As reported by Lloyd’s List, there is little he has not achieved in shipping during a 40-year career as a shipowner.

4. In fourth place and 14th overall is George Prokopiou, founder of Dynacom, Dynagas and Sea Traders. Prokopiou has one of the largest tanker order books, while he is also among the main carriers of American LNG exports.

5. The new European Commission Commissioner for Transport, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, along with Commission officials Fotini Ioannidou and Magda Kopczynska, are ranked 24th overall and fifth among Greeks.

6. The president of the Union of Greek Shipowners, Melina Travlou, is sixth in terms of Greek presence and 26th on the list. Travlou, the first female president in the history of the Union of Greek Shipowners, was re-elected for a second term at the helm of the world’s largest national shipowners’ association.

7. Another Greek shipping figure, Angeliki Frangou, is seventh among Greeks and 29th overall. Lloyd’s referred to the two successful bonds issued in the Norwegian market.

8. In 36th place overall and eighth among Greeks is Thomas Kazakos, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping.

9. Kostis Konstantakopoulos (Costamare), who ranks 40th on the list and ninth among Greeks, is described as an active shipowner who has secured a broad presence in the industry.

10. Semiramis Paliou, who is 52nd on the list and 10th among Greeks, attracted significant interest following the recent takeover proposal for Genco.

11. The founder and CEO of Tsakos Energy Navigation, Dr. Nikos Tsakos, is “running” an extensive shipbuilding program for tankers. Tsakos ranks 56th overall and 11th among Greeks.

12. In 60th place on the list and 12th among Greeks is Peter Livanos of GasLog and DryLog. The Greek shipowner remains strong in LNG carriers and is a co-owner of the growing dry bulk company Global Chartering.

13. George Logothetis of Libra Group is 67th on the list and 13th among Greeks. He has shifted from containerships to bulkers and tankers, while diversifying his portfolio through numerous technological partnerships with start-ups.

14. The head of Star Bulk, Petros Pappas, ranks 80th on the list and is the 14th Greek, and he holds the helm of the largest dry bulk shipping company listed in the US.

15. The secretary general of the European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA), Sotiris Raptis, is 88th on the list and the 15th Greek. The European fleet is among the largest in the world, representing 35% of the global fleet.

16. Elpi Petraki, president of WISTA International (Enea Management), ranks 91st on the list and is the 16th Greek.

Bulk carriers: Greek shipowners return to shipbuilding

The shipping group of George and Panagiotis Angelopoulos is expanding its fleet renewal program.

Aegean Bulk, the company managing the group’s bulk carriers, has reached an agreement with the Chinese shipyard Hengli Shipbuilding for the construction of four Kamsarmax-type bulk carriers.

The company is returning to bulk carrier shipbuilding after more than 10 years.

It is noted that the group’s other company, Arcadia Shipmanagement, which manages the tanker fleet, has seven tankers under construction, three of which are being built at Hyundai shipyards in South Korea and another four at DSIC shipyards in China. The vessels will be delivered to Arcadia gradually in 2026 and 2027.

Greek shipowners are dynamically returning to new bulk carrier shipbuilding after a sterile nine-month period in terms of deals, during which, according to major shipbuilding platforms, no new contracts were recorded.

In fact, Hengli’s operations in China have given many shipping companies in and outside Greece the opportunity to proceed with shipbuilding through 2028, as most shipyards are “closed” until the end of that year.

Especially in the bulk carrier sector, when shipbuilding demand is very high, companies tend to prioritize more expensive specialized constructions, such as LNG carriers, large containerships and tankers.

Over the past two months, Star Bulk Carriers, as well as Oceanbulk, the listed and private company of Petros Pappas, have turned to Chinese shipyards for new bulk carrier construction.

Star Bulk is “running” an extensive fleet renewal program, with 15 sales of older tonnage, while at the same time maintaining eight bulk carriers under construction.

The latest three orders, concluded last month, will also be built at Hengli.

Another three vessels at the same shipyard will be built on behalf of Oceanbulk, Pappas’ private company.

Seanergy Maritime Holdings, led by Stamatis Tsantanis, also confirmed that it has secured its first-ever newbuild Capesize vessel at a leading shipyard in China.

The scrubber-fitted Capesize will cost 75 million dollars and will be delivered in early 2027.

Atlantic Bulk Carriers, owned by the Koumandaros family and awarded the Sustainability Award at last week’s Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Awards, has also placed an order for four 63,500-dwt Ultramax vessels at Nantong Xiangyu Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering.

The ships are valued at approximately 33.8 million dollars each, with delivery scheduled for 2028.

Earlier this year, the company delivered its first three Chinese-built vessels—Desert Lion, Desert Puma and Desert Leopard—marking its entry into the Chinese newbuilding market.