Greek Owner Venergy Maritime Expands Tanker Fleet with Suezmax Newbuilding Order at Hengli Shipbuilding

## Venergy Maritime Doubles Down on Crude Tankers with Chinese Newbuilding Programme Piraeus-based Venergy Maritime is pressing ahead with an ambitious fleet expansion strategy, securing firm contracts for two suezmax crude tankers at China's Hengli Shipbuilding, with options in place for up to two further vessels of the same class, according to Splash247. The Greek owner, led by founder and chief executive Vyron Vasileiadis, has ordered 158,000 dwt suezmax newbuildings as part of a deliberate and accelerating move into the crude tanker market. The inclusion of options for additional hulls signals that Venergy's appetite for growth in this segment remains firmly intact. ### A Company on the Rise Venergy Maritime has emerged as one of the more closely watched names among Greece's newer generation of shipowners, building its portfolio at pace in recent years. The latest order underscores the company's conviction in the long-term fundamentals of the crude tanker trade, a sector that has experienced significant earnings volatility but has rewarded owners with modern, efficient tonnage. Suezmax tankers — capable of transiting the Suez Canal fully laden — occupy a strategically important position in the crude oil supply chain, serving major export routes from West Africa, the Black Sea, and the North Sea to refineries across Asia, Europe, and North America. ### Hengli Shipbuilding as Chosen Yard The selection of Hengli Shipbuilding reflects a broader trend among Greek and European owners turning to Chinese yards for competitive pricing and improving delivery schedules. Hengli, part of the diversified Hengli Group, has been actively courting international tanker and bulker orders as it seeks to establish itself among China's leading commercial shipbuilders. ### Market Context The order comes at a time when suezmax newbuilding activity has been picking up across the industry, driven by an ageing global tanker fleet and sustained demand for crude transportation. Owners with access to capital are moving to lock in yard slots ahead of anticipated tightening in shipbuilding capacity through the latter half of the decade. For Venergy Maritime, the Hengli contracts represent a clear statement of intent — positioning the company as a credible and growing force in the crude tanker space as it transitions from an emerging owner to an established fleet operator. *Source: Splash247*