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Annual research

Ship type Graph 2
The vast majority of the fleet consists of bulk carriers (2,719 Distribution of the fleet by ship type based on company size
ships – 50.9%) and tankers (1,582 ships – 29.6%). More Source: Analysis of data sourced by Greek Shipping Publications
Note: Percentages lower than 5% are not included.
than eight out of ten ships (80.5%) in the fleet belong to one
of these two ship types. Additionally, 9.8% (525 ships) Bulk carriers Tankers Containerships
of the fleet are containerships, 3.4% (179 ships) are LNG
carriers, 2.9% (156 ships) are LPG carriers, and 3.4% LNG carriers LPG carriers Other ship type
(179 ships) are other ship types.
This distribution varies significantly when the size of the com-
pany is taken into account. Of the 815 ships (15%) managed
by small-sized companies, 69% are bulk carriers, highlighting
once again the leading role of dry bulk vessels for these com- SMALL- MEDIUM- LARGE-
panies. Bulk carriers, being smaller in capacity and less tech- SIZED SIZED SIZED TOTAL
nologically complex, are more affordable for new or smaller
companies with limited financing. 5%
Small-sized companies manage fewer tankers (21% of their
fleet) and only a small number of containerships, LNG carri-
ers, and LPG carriers (a combined total of 5%). This shift has 5%
been gradual in recent years: in 2023, 66% of their fleet were
bulk carriers, and 24% were tankers. Over time, tankers have 9.8%
played a decreasing role in the fleets of small-sized compa-
nies, possibly due to the increasingly stringent requirements
of charterers and regulators. 21% 16%
Bulk carriers also play a crucial role in medium-sized companies, 28%
accounting for 63% of their fleet. In addition, a significant per-
centage of their fleet consists of tankers (28%), while only 7%
of their fleet comprises containerships, LNG carriers, and LPG
carriers combined. Compared to previous years, there is a slight
decrease in the percentage of tankers (2024: 32%, 2023: 33%), 29.6%
while bulk carriers have increased (2024: 61%, 2023: 61%).
In large-sized companies, significant differences emerge in
terms of their management profile compared to that of all
companies. 39% of their fleet consists of bulk carriers, while 33%
33% are tankers. Notably, 16% of the fleet consists of contain-
erships, while 9% are LNG carriers and LPG carriers.
The differences in fleet composition between large-sized
companies and the overall fleet are not as “pronounced”.
To highlight them, we further categorise large-sized companies
into subcategories.
In the first category (companies with fleets of 16 to 29 ships),
there are 52 companies managing a total of 1,086 ships, with
an average capacity of 94,405 DWT and an average age of 12 69%
years. These companies manage 20.3% of the entire fleet, and 63%
their fleet consists of 47% bulk carriers and 36% tankers. This
is the first category in which a notable increase in the share
of tankers is observed compared to the overall fleet. 50.9%
In the second category (companies with fleets from 30 to
49 vessels), 25 companies managing a total of 947 vessels
are reported, with an average capacity of 89,494 DWT and 39%
an average age of 12.1 years. These companies manage 17.7%
of the entire fleet, with their vessels comprising 36% bulk
carriers, 25% tankers, 27% containerships, 11% LNG carriers,
and 1% LPG carriers.
As the size of the companies increases, the role of contain-
erships in the fleet composition becomes increasingly prom-
inent. Additionally, this category of companies manages
a significant portion of the entire LNG carrier fleet.

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