Greeks Actively Buy Boxships
Greek owners remain the most active in the market for small-to-medium sized containership acquisitions through secondhand bargains or further newbuilding orders.
Most buyers appear to see now as an opportunity to buy less expensively and are seeking to buy small second-hand vessels, around 2,000 teu.
The Eurobulk group, particularly, is reportedly eyeing what would be its largest boxships and first newbuildings. The group is said to have been discussing vessel orders of 6,900 teu with Hyundai Heavy Industries.
However, chief executive Aristides Pittas said that Eurobulk is evaluating both newbuilding and secondhand opportunities, but no transaction has been agreed.
The owner had also been linked to potential newbuild orders of 5,000 teu more than a year ago, but no deal went forward.
Meanwhile, Greek owners have moved up to third place in container shipping capacity, with an estimated 8% share of the global boxship fleet.