Two of Greece’s best-known shipowners have joined the latest VLCC newbuilding surge at China’s Hengli Shipbuilding, adding six more crude carriers to the yard’s growing backlog.
Shipbuilding sources said George Economou’s TMS Group has committed to up to four 306,000 dwt VLCCs, while Thanassis Laskaridis-led Alimia Group, through its shipping arm Laskaridis Maritime, has ordered two similar vessels. All ships are understood to be priced at around $118m each.
Deliveries for the TMS quartet are expected between 2027 and 2028, while the Alimia pair will deliver earlier, between late 2026 and the first quarter of 2027.
The deal marks Laskaridis Maritime’s first move into the VLCC segment and its ongoing cooperation with the Chinese builder, having previously ordered 10 kamsarmax bulkers at the same yard.
The Alimia group currently controls 34 vessels, mostly bulk carriers, but has been steadily diversifying into the tanker market through MR and LR orders.
TMS’s entry adds further weight to Greek ordering activity at Hengli, which in recent weeks has also won VLCC contracts from George Prokopiou’s Dynacom and Evangelos Marinakis’ Capital Maritime.
