In the first quarter of this year, Greek owner become active again in newbuilding market after the financial crisis in 2008 and the following shipping recession.
According to Greek shipbroker Golden Destiny, Greek owners ordered about 41 vessels in the first quarter, including 17 bulkers, 11 tankers, 4 boxships, 2 LNG carriers and 4 LPG carriers, increasing by 32% against the same period of last year. New orders for Capesize bulkers has almost double to 3.8m dwt in the period, so as the investment in newbuilding - Greek owners invest about $3.2bn on Capes, not including the five unrevealed orders.
Increase of new orders is mainly due to owner’s fever in Capesize bulker and green ships, as well as the attractive newbuilding price, of course. Since the first quarter of 2010, newbuilding market has not been so active. The low ship price has ignited shipowners’ passion for new vessels.
According to Golden Destiny, global new order has increased by 43% year on year to 471 vessel in the period. Greek owners still show great interest in MR tanker and keep calm to he investment on boxships.