Boxship acquisitions and gas carrier orders have helped to boost Greek-controlled shipping to a new record in year-on-year data commissioned by the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee in London.
Adding 2.4m dwt increased the Greek-owned fleet to 264m dwt by March this year, beating the previous record high of 263.5m dwt in 2009.
According to the survey, Greek owners controlled 3,760 ships, down from 3,848 vessels a year earlier.
The survey, which includes vessels in service as well as those on order, noted that tonnage yet to be delivered to Greek owners has fallen sharply, with 437 newbuildings of 41.3m dwt on order.
Gains in tonnage over the past 12 months came mainly from containerships, where Greeks added 44 boxships, or a net gain of 3.2m dwt, and from 11 additional gas carriers that added 1.5m dwt.
Greeks also expanded marginally in oil tankers, but their presence has fallen in the dry bulk and product tanker sectors.
The Greek-flagged fleet now comprises 862 ships of 74.5m dwt, down from 917 of 79.7m dwt last year and 969 ships of 80.5m dwt in 2010.
The Cyprus flag also lost 1m dwt of Greek-owned vessels last year. Malta, Liberia and the Marshall Islands were the main beneficiaries in registering Greek tonnage.