The Greek magnate Panos Laskaridis, owner of the Canary shipyard Astican, has once again shaken up the naval newbuilding market. Through its shipping arm, Lavinia Tankers, the group has exercised a purchase option at the South Korean shipyard DH Shipbuilding (formerly Daehan) for the construction of a fourth Suezmax tanker. This maneuver consolidates an aggressive expansion strategy initiated in January, when the group placed the original order for two units, subsequently expanded in March and now culminating with this fourth piece. The investment is significant. While the contract has been kept under calculated corporate discretion, market sources and the South Korean shipyard itself confirm an order for a 157,000 deadweight ton (DWT) vessel valued at just over 89 million dollars. With this operation, Laskaridis not only rejuvenates his fleet of 14 operational vessels, but also raises his order book to five large units, with delivery scheduled for July 2029. The move by Lavinia Tankers is a clear signal of the group’s confidence in the large crude oil tanker segment. By betting on Suezmax vessels, the Laskaridis Shipping group diversifies its operational capacity, which has historically focused on bulk carriers, MR tankers, and reefer vessels, positioning itself in the league of major crude transporters globally. This financial robustness of the owner of Astican contrasts with the current volatility in the maritime market and underscores the solvency of one of the key players in the economy of the Port of Las Palmas. For the DH Shipbuilding yard, Laskaridis’ order is the icing on the cake for a record quarter. The Korean facility has achieved 13 new orders so far this year, surpassing its annual target before the end of April. While in the Canary Islands the Laskaridis group focuses on repair and naval service through Astican, on the international board, Panos Laskaridis continues to design a future fleet, securing cargo capacity at the world’s most advanced shipyards for the next decade.
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