Greek shipowners placed 40 newbuilding orders in October, excluding options, continuing to lead global shipbuilding activity for another month, according to data reported by Naftemporiki and cited by Shipping Herald on October 29.
The month’s order mix was more balanced than in previous months, when tankers of all types dominated. By the end of last week, orders had been placed for 12 bulk carriers, 12 tankers, 14 containerships and two gas carriers, with Panos Laskaridis-controlled Lavinia Bulkers and Athens-based Pavimar among the owners behind the largest deals.
Diversified Order Mix Breaks From Tanker-Led Trend
October’s newbuilding activity marked a shift from the pattern seen through much of 2026, when tanker orders dominated Greek fleet renewal. The split across bulk carriers, tankers, containerships and gas carriers points to owners spreading investment across multiple segments rather than concentrating on a single ship type.
The October activity follows a broader surge in Greek newbuilding investment this year. Greek shipping interests had 1,003 ships on order as of early October, a figure that underscores the scale of fleet renewal underway across the sector, with several listed companies also expanding their presence on Euronext Athens.
Lavinia Bulkers Returns to Newcastlemax Newbuildings
Lavinia Bulkers, controlled by Panos Laskaridis, placed an order with China’s Zhoushan Changhong International Shipyard for four Newcastlemax bulk carriers of 212,000 deadweight tonnes each, in a deal worth about $312 million. Each vessel is priced at approximately $78 million, with deliveries expected in 2030.
The order marks Lavinia Bulkers’ first Newcastlemax newbuilding contract in 13 years, following six vessels of the same class ordered from Chinese and South Korean yards in 2013 that remain in service. Sister company Lavinia Tankers has separately ordered four Suezmax tankers of 157,000 dwt from South Korea’s DH Shipbuilding this year, worth $89 million each, for delivery in 2029, extending a tanker programme that began with two units ordered earlier in the year.
Pavimar Adds Kamsarmax Bulkers and First Boxships Since 2022
Athens-based Pavimar, headed by Ismini Panagiotidi, has contracted four kamsarmax dry bulk carriers at China’s Hengli Heavy Industries for delivery through 2029, with the contract price undisclosed. The order adds Pavimar to a growing list of Greek owners turning to Hengli as the yard builds up production at the former STX Dalian facilities.
Separately, Pavimar placed its first order for newbuild containerships since 2022, covering two vessels scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2028. The move reflects a wider diversification trend among Greek dry bulk operators that have traditionally concentrated on bulker and tanker tonnage, as yards such as Hengli compete increasingly with established Chinese shipbuilders for Greek business.
Why it matters
Greek owners control one of the world’s largest merchant fleets, and sustained heavy newbuilding investment signals continued confidence in freight markets despite regulatory uncertainty over greenhouse gas rules. The shift toward a more balanced order mix across bulkers, tankers, containerships and gas carriers suggests demand is broadening beyond the tanker-led buying seen earlier in 2026. Continued reliance on Chinese yards such as Zhoushan Changhong and Hengli Heavy Industries also reinforces China’s growing share of global shipbuilding capacity, even as South Korean yards retain a foothold in higher-specification tanker orders.
Source: Shipping Herald
