Greek shipowner JHI Steamship is actively expanding its presence in the crude oil tanker market and accelerating fleet expansion through newbuilding projects.
According to fleet data on the JHI Steamship website, the company has ordered one 320,000 DWT Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) from Hanwha Ocean. The vessel, hull number 5551, is scheduled for delivery in 2029.
To date, JHI Steamship’s fleet data lists a total of six newbuilds, all being constructed by South Korean shipyards. These include three 115,000 DWT Aframax tankers from K Shipbuilding, scheduled for delivery in 2027 (two vessels) and 2028 (one vessel); two 157,000 DWT Suezmax tankers from HD Hyundai Samho, scheduled for delivery in 2028 and 2029; and one VLCC from Hanwha Ocean, scheduled for delivery in 2029.
In 2026, JHI Steamship took delivery of one 114,823 DWT Aframax oil tanker from the Japanese shipbuilder Sumitomo Heavy Industries (the shipbuilder’s final newbuild for the merchant shipping market); and two 182,000 DWT bulk carriers, both built by the Japan Shipbuilding Consortium.
In accordance with JHI Steamship’s shipbuilding practice, all of the company’s new vessel orders are placed with Japanese shipbuilders. Previously, Sumitomo Heavy Industries had long been the contractor for its tanker projects; however, following the Japanese shipbuilder’s official announcement that it was exiting the commercial shipbuilding sector, JHI Steamship has shifted its latest tanker orders to South Korean shipbuilders.
Currently, JHI Steamship operates a diversified fleet of 13 vessels, including one VLCC under management. The company’s new VLCC order reflects Greek shipowners’ enthusiasm for investing in this vessel type; in the first quarter of 2026 alone, Greek shipowners ordered more than 20 VLCCs.