Pantheon Tankers Management (PTM), a shipping company led by Greek shipowner Anna Angelicoussis, has joined the newbuilding boom for crude oil tankers, having placed an order for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel Suezmax tanker and is discussing a potential order for Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs).
According to industry sources, Pantheon Tankers Management has ordered two 157,000 DWT LNG dual-fuel Suezmax tankers from COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Yangzhou), which are expected to be delivered in 2028.
Prior to the public announcement of this order for two new ships, COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Yangzhou) had just completed the construction of four 114,000 DWT Aframax/LR2 product tankers for Pantheon Tankers Management.
This Aframax/LR2 product tanker is 248.8 meters long, 44 meters wide, and 21.5 meters deep, with a design draft of 13.5 meters. It belongs to the new generation of green and environmentally friendly oil tankers.
The vessel’s hull has been optimized through multiple rounds and is equipped with energy-saving devices such as propeller ducts and anti-vortex fins, meeting EEDI Phase 3 standards. It has significant fuel economy, and its structural design complies with the latest CSR-H specifications, achieving greater deadweight and cargo capacity.
According to shipbrokers and market sources, as global shipowners compete fiercely for limited delivery slots at major shipyards, Pantheon Tankers Management is also evaluating newbuilding plans for VLCCs, with Chinese shipyards as its key focus. Hengli Heavy Industries, currently regarded as one of the most sought-after shipyards worldwide, has emerged as a potential candidate.
Pantheon Tankers Management currently owns 42 tankers, with 6 new vessels under construction, including 2 VLCCs and 4 Suezmax tankers. In addition to the two newly signed vessels, the other 2 Suezmax tankers are being built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, and the 2 VLCCs are being built by CSSC Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (DSIC).
In addition to Pantheon Tankers Management, other subsidiaries of Anna Angelicoussis are also making frequent moves in 2026. Alpha Gas, which is responsible for LNG carriers, ordered two 174,000 cbm LNG carriers from Hanwha Ocean in January this year, with a total cost of nearly US$500 million. They are expected to be delivered to the shipowner before June 2029. Alpha Gas currently operates 14 gas carriers. Alpha Bulkers, which is responsible for transporting dry bulk carriers, operates a fleet of 33 vessels.
In recent months, the global new shipbuilding market has been dominated by crude oil tankers, with orders for these vessel types growing rapidly, particularly concentrated in Chinese shipyards. Amidst increasingly fierce competition, securing early delivery slots is becoming increasingly difficult, while private shipyards are considered to have an advantage in terms of production capacity allocation.
Hengli Heavy Industries is undoubtedly the biggest winner in this wave of new ship orders. As of February 12, Hengli Heavy Industries has announced 62+4 newbuildings for 2026, with 49 vessels in the tanker market, including 35 VLCCs and 14 tankers; the remaining orders are distributed in the container ship and bulk carrier sectors with 8+2 and 5+2 vessels respectively.