- Greek shipowners have ordered 606 new vessels, maintaining their leadership in global ship ordering, especially in the tanker segment.
- The Greek-owned fleet hit a new record of 4,221 ships, despite a slight decline in total carrying capacity (dwt).
- Greek-flagged vessels are decreasing, as more Greek shipowners opt for flexible and less bureaucratic EU registries, particularly Portugal, Malta, and Cyprus.
Greek shipowners continue to lead the global shipbuilding market, with an impressive total of 606 new commercial vessels ordered by the end of April 2025, according to data from Xclusiv Shipbrokers. This figure reflects consistent activity in ship ordering in recent years, particularly within the tanker category. Tankers dominate the Greek order book, followed by bulk carriers, container ships, and gas carriers, illustrating the diversified interests of Greek maritime firms.
Significant Share in Global Orders
Of the 1,189 tankers currently being constructed worldwide, Greek companies account for 292 units, making up 25% of the global tanker order book. In addition to tankers, Greek owners have ordered 167 bulkers (13% of the global total), 50 container ships (6%), 14% of all LNG carriers, and 97 LPG carriers (16% of the 653 LPG carriers globally under construction). Notably, 37 bulk carrier orders were placed after January 1, 2025, signaling a recent uptick in that segment.
Greek-Owned Fleet Hits Record Numbers
The overall size of the Greek-owned fleet reached an all-time high in March 2025, with 4,221 vessels of more than 1,000 gross tons (gt). This surpasses the 2024 count of 4,212 ships, confirming Greece’s dominant position in global shipping. An additional 426 vessels of various types are currently under construction and on order from international shipyards.
Slight Decline in Deadweight Capacity
Despite the numerical growth of the Greek-owned fleet, its total carrying capacity has slightly decreased by 1.11 million deadweight tons (dwt), now standing at 354,092,466 dwt or approximately 208 million gt. This suggests ongoing fleet renewal strategies, possibly involving the scrapping of older, larger ships in favor of more modern, efficient tonnage.
EU Registries Gaining Popularity over the Greek Flag
A notable trend is the declining use of the Greek flag. The number of Greek-owned vessels registered under the national flag dropped by 16 ships to 480. Meanwhile, Greek shipowners are increasingly registering their vessels under other European Union flags, with the total number now at 1,414, representing 33.5% of their fleet. Portugal gained the most ships (62), followed by Malta (51) and Cyprus (19). This shift is attributed to ongoing concerns over bureaucracy and inflexibility associated with the Greek maritime registry.
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Source: Greek Reporter
