〆President＆CEO, Delaportas expressed confidence in the quality of Japanese shipyards, stating: “We trust the quality of Japanese shipyards.”
In April, DryDel Shipping took delivery of a 40,000-tonne vessel from Namura Shipbuilding’s Imari Shipyard in Saga Prefecture. They plan to complete three more new builds by the end of 2024, bringing their fleet to 16 vessels. The newly constructed ships, all 40,000 tonnes, are branded as “WARRIOR” and will be chartered out on middle-term contracts (TC out) to operators. DryDel expects delivery from Namura Shipbuilding in July, September, and October 2024, respectively.
DryDel Shipping’s fleet is set to significantly expand with the upcoming completion of new-build vessels. Currently owning 13 ships, DryDel’s fleet will grow to 16 state-of-the-art vessels with an average age of three years due to the new constructions.
During the delivery ceremony in Japan, Costas Delaportas, President and CEO of DryDel who visited for the occasion, spoke to the Japan Maritime Daily at a Tokyo hotel, expressing confidence in Japanese shipyard quality and performance:
“We trust the quality and performance of Japanese shipyards. This new build marks the first collaboration between Namura Shipbuilding and DryDel, and we are excited about this new partnership.”
This year, DryDel established a base in Sao Paulo, Brazil, as part of its operational expansion, reinforcing its operational capabilities in a tri-polar structure with Singapore and Dubai.
Regarding future operational plans, President Delaportas stated:
“We currently own 13 modern vessels and will receive deliveries of 9 new buildings from Japanese shipyards over the next three years. As operators, we manage 35 vessels under long-term charter. In 2023, DryDel secured 400 fixtures and transported 4 million tons of cargo, demonstrating our position as a leading Greek-origin maritime company.”
The Posidonia International Maritime Exhibition 2024, held in the first week of June, marked its 60th anniversary with record-breaking attendance. The event attracted over 2,030 exhibitors from 82 countries, showcasing their innovations both within the expansive exhibition halls and in newly established outdoor areas to meet unprecedented demand.
More than 40,000 maritime professionals from around the world gathered in Greece, facilitating business transactions, networking, knowledge exchange, and discussions on future industry plans.
During Posidonia Week, DryDel Shipping hosted a grand reception, welcoming guests from around the world, particularly from Japan.
Regarding activities during Posidonia, President Delaportas remarked:
“Posidonia provided invaluable opportunities for networking with industry leaders, exploring partnership potentials, and discussing innovative solutions for sustainable shipping. We presented our recent projects and emphasized our plans for fleet expansion.”
Looking ahead to future business strategies, he added:
“DryDel firmly believes in owning assets. Our strength lies in having cargo. Unlike non-asset players who operate cargo solely through chartering without owning vessels, we aim to steadily build our owned fleet as owner-operators.”
On the topic of Chinese shipbuilding, he noted:
“It’s true there is a price differential between Chinese yards and Japanese yards. However, DryDel values the quality and craftsmanship of Japanese shipyards over this price gap. Our policy remains unchanged to continue choosing Japanese shipyards as our first choice.”
He concluded by expressing:
“We are truly honored to maintain strong and enduring cooperative relationships with the most respected figures in Japan’s maritime industry.”