Greece’s Danaos has stepped into bulker newbuildings for the first time, unveiling the move as part of a six-ship order programme that widens both its fleet mix and investment reach.
The New York-listed owner disclosed the deals alongside stronger-than-expected earnings, confirming orders for two newcastlemax bulkers of about 211,000 dwt each, with delivery slated for 2028. The contracts mark Danaos’ first direct shipyard orders in the bulker segment.
Led by John Coustas (pictured), Danaos has already built a foothold in dry bulk through secondhand acquisitions and now controls a fleet of 11 capesize bulkers.
At the same time, the owner has firmed up construction of four mid-size container vessels in China, extending a recent run of boxship investments. Danaos confirmed it has ordered four 5,300 teu containerships at CSSC’s Huangpu Wenchong Shipyard, with deliveries scheduled for 2028 and 2029.
Danaos currently counts 75 boxships with a combined capacity of 477,491 teu. With the latest orders included, the company’s orderbook now stands at 27 vessels.
On a fully delivered basis, Danaos said its fleet would comprise 102 containerships with an aggregate capacity of about 652,041 teu, alongside 13 dry bulk vessels, with a total capacity of roughly 2.37m dwt.
The fleet expansion comes as Danaos continues to further diversify beyond liner shipping. In January, the company disclosed a strategic investment in the Alaska LNG project, marking its first move into the energy sector and underlining a broader push to spread earnings across multiple shipping and energy segments.
