Greece Tops Ship Purchases List

Greek shipowners have invested more than $2.3 billion for the purchase of 118 ships for the January-August 2009 period and are considered the biggest spenders on ships in the world, according to data released by Allied Shipbroking firm.

Greece is followed by Chinese shipowners with $1.7 billion and third place goes to Norwegian shipowners with $559 million.

More specifically, in 2009 Greek shipowners invested $1.7 billion to buy dry-bulk carriers, $535.5 million for tankers, $52.3 million for container ships and $3.7 million for the purchase of a reefer vessel.

According to Allied Shipbroking, in 2008 Greek shipping companies spent $8 billion to buy 197 second-hand ships, even during the last three months when the global economic crisis began to appear.

In addition, in 2007 Greek shipowners purchased 445 ships, the value of which touched $17 billion.

Meanwhile, according to the National Statistical Service of Greece, in June 2009 the Greek merchant fleet counted a total of 2.114 vessels with a total capacity of 41.442.364 gross registered tonnage.