iGEN
Visit IGEN World Explore IGEN Expo
EXPLORE UPGRADE PLANS
BREAKING
CMA CGM and Stonepeak Launch United Ports LLC in $2.4 Billion Terminal Joint Venture UPS shift away from Amazon shows bigger payoff Lanesurf: 62% of Loads Get Vetted Carrier Offers Before Brokers Arrive India-China Border Trade Via Lipulekh Resumes Aug 1; China Permits 20 Traders Geopolitics Drives CMA CGM Q2 Profit Surge of 42% as Volumes and Rates Climb Benchmark Diesel Price Rises Third Week as Futures Plunge; Spread Hits Record Indian Government Limits Sugar Dealers to 400 Tonnes Stock Until November to Curb Hoarding Tenants signing longer leases for larger warehouses as 3PLs lock in capacity US stock market flat as S&P 500 and Dow barely move, Nasdaq slides over 1% on chip rout TruAlt Bioenergy Q1 Net Zooms to ₹59.27 Crore on Higher Revenues, Capacity Expansion CMA CGM and Stonepeak Launch United Ports LLC in $2.4 Billion Terminal Joint Venture UPS shift away from Amazon shows bigger payoff Lanesurf: 62% of Loads Get Vetted Carrier Offers Before Brokers Arrive India-China Border Trade Via Lipulekh Resumes Aug 1; China Permits 20 Traders Geopolitics Drives CMA CGM Q2 Profit Surge of 42% as Volumes and Rates Climb Benchmark Diesel Price Rises Third Week as Futures Plunge; Spread Hits Record Indian Government Limits Sugar Dealers to 400 Tonnes Stock Until November to Curb Hoarding Tenants signing longer leases for larger warehouses as 3PLs lock in capacity US stock market flat as S&P 500 and Dow barely move, Nasdaq slides over 1% on chip rout TruAlt Bioenergy Q1 Net Zooms to ₹59.27 Crore on Higher Revenues, Capacity Expansion
Home ›› Logistics ›› Shipping Freight ›› Tankers Lng ›› Greek owner Ionic orders four tanker newbuilds at Japanese shipyards for fleet renewal
iGEN
Logistics Shipping & Freight

Greek owner Ionic orders four tanker newbuilds at Japanese shipyards for fleet renewal

Greek shipping company Ionic has ordered four tanker newbuildings at Japanese shipyards, according to Greek media reports. The order, led by owner Dimitris Sarakakis, includes a mix of suezmax and aframax tankers aimed at fleet renewal rather than expansion. No price or delivery dates have been disclosed.

iG
iGEN Editorial
June 23, 2026
Greek owner Ionic orders four tanker newbuilds at Japanese shipyards for fleet renewal

Greek tanker owner Ionic is adding four new vessels to its fleet with orders placed at Japanese shipyards, a move that will support fleet renewal and maintain its long-standing reliance on Japanese-built tonnage. The order, confirmed by owner Dimitris Sarakakis in comments to Japanese media as reported by Greek media, comprises a mix of suezmax and aframax tankers, though specific pricing and delivery timelines remain undisclosed.

Fleet renewal rationale

Sarakakis stated the move is aimed primarily at fleet renewal rather than expansion, citing the need for newer and more efficient vessels as the global tanker fleet continues to age. This continues Ionic's long-running preference for Japanese-built ships, where the company has built up both its tanker and dry bulk fleets.

Current fleet composition

Ionic Tankers currently lists seven vessels in operation: six aframaxes and one suezmax, all built at Japanese yards including JMU, Sumitomo, Namura, and Tsuneishi. The company's newest tanker is the 2025-built, 159,120 dwt suezmax Ionic Semeli, delivered by JMU. Meanwhile, Ionic's dry bulk arm lists 11 vessels, including kamsarmaxes, ultramaxes, and supramaxes, built at Japanese yards such as Imabari, Sasebo, Tsuneishi, and Mitsui.

Segment Number of vessels Notable yards
Tankers 7 (6 aframaxes, 1 suezmax) JMU, Sumitomo, Namura, Tsuneishi
Dry bulk 11 (kamsarmax, ultramax, supramax) Imabari, Sasebo, Tsuneishi, Mitsui

Implications for tanker markets

For charterers and traders reliant on tanker capacity, Ionic's fleet renewal signals continued availability of modern, efficient vessels in the spot and time charter markets. The newbuilds will add capacity to the suezmax and aframax segments, which are key for crude and product transport. However, without disclosed delivery dates, the near-term impact on supply is unclear. Ionic was established in 2013 with the aim of building a medium-sized fleet of modern vessels and has maintained a steady preference for Japanese-built ships across both tanker and bulker sectors.

Watch list

  • Delivery schedules for the four newbuilds, which will determine when new capacity enters the market.
  • Tanker freight rate trends, particularly for suezmax and aframax tonnage, as fleet renewal affects supply dynamics.
  • Further newbuilding orders by Greek owners, which could signal a broader trend in tanker fleet modernization.

Sources: Splash247 Maritime

Keep Reading

Recommended Stories

Ditaş Orders Two Suezmax Tankers at DH Shipbuilding in $196M Deal Logistics

Ditaş Orders Two Suezmax Tankers at DH Shipbuilding in $196M Deal

Turkish tanker owner Ditaş has been linked to an order for two 157,000 dwt suezmaxes at South Korea's DH Shipbuilding, valued at KRW271.3bn ($196m). This marks Ditaş's first suezmax order in about a decade and would double its suezmax fleet to four vessels. DH Shipbuilding's 2026 order intake reaches a record 17 ships.

July 28, 2026
Pan Ocean Confirms Two VLCC Newbuildings at Qingdao Beihai Shipyard Logistics

Pan Ocean Confirms Two VLCC Newbuildings at Qingdao Beihai Shipyard

South Korean shipowner Pan Ocean has confirmed a pair of VLCC newbuildings at CSSC-controlled Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding. The 319,000 dwt ammonia-ready vessels are scheduled for delivery in September 2030, priced around $122m each, according to market sources. This follows a single same-design VLCC ordered in March, bringing Pan Ocean's VLCC orderbook at the yard to three ships.

July 28, 2026
DH Shipbuilding Sets Annual Order Record with Fresh Suezmax Pair – New Deliveries Through 2029 Logistics

DH Shipbuilding Sets Annual Order Record with Fresh Suezmax Pair – New Deliveries Through 2029

South Korea's DH Shipbuilding has secured a KRW271.3bn ($196m) contract for two 157,000 dwt suezmax crude carriers from an unnamed European owner, pushing its 2025 order intake to a record 17 ships. The yard's orderbook now stands at 36 vessels, filling its construction schedule through the end of 2029.

July 27, 2026
Titan Wind Energy enters tanker building with order for two crude oil tankers Logistics

Titan Wind Energy enters tanker building with order for two crude oil tankers

Titan Wind Energy, a Chinese renewable energy equipment manufacturer, has entered the tanker building sector with an order for two firm 113,800 dwt crude oil tankers, with options for two more. The deal is valued at CNY1.874 billion ($257.8 million) if all options are exercised, with deliveries scheduled for 2028-2029. The order marks the company's first move into mainstream tanker construction, adding to China's growing shipbuilding capacity.

July 23, 2026