Newly established Greek shipowner Carlova Maritime orders its first newbuild.
According to industry sources, Carlova Maritime has signed a contract with Hanwha Ocean to build a very large crude carrier (VLCC), which is expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2027.
Carlova Maritime, founded earlier this year as Samos Steamship, traces its roots back to 1911 and is led by Anthony Inglessis. The order marks a shift in the Inglessis family’s long-standing strategy of placing orders with Japanese shipyards.
Carlova Maritime has now taken over the commercial and technical management of seven vessels under Samos Steamship, including five tankers and two bulk carriers, one of which is a VLCC.
In addition, another joint venture related to the Inglessis family, JHI Steamship, has been established and is operated by John Inglessis. JHI Steamship currently manages six vessels and plans to expand its fleet to 13 vessels in the coming months, with several newbuildings scheduled for delivery in 2026.
Excluding the above orders, Hanwha Ocean has received orders for 10 VLCCs this year, ranking first among global shipyards.
According to Clarkson data, Hanwha Ocean is the world’s largest VLCC shipbuilder, having delivered 198 of the 1,015 VLCCs currently in operation, accounting for 19.5% of the global fleet.