Greek newcomer Delia breaks into offshore vessel sector with three-ship acquisition

Delia, a relatively new name in Greek shipping founded by members of the Vellis family, has expanded into the offshore vessel sector through the acquisition of three units.

According to the company’s website, the vessels added to the fleet include 2011-built PSV DP2 Stingray I, AHTS DP1 Bossan, and 2013-built ERV DP1 Sea Bass. Equasis currently lists their manager as an entity based in Azerbaijan and their owner as a Dubai-based company.

Delia confirmed the acquisitions to Riviera when approached, stating that the vessels are now owned by the group, though it declined to comment on the motives behind its expansion into offshore assets.

The move aligns with a broader trend within the Greek shipping community. Prominent owners – including Evangelos Marinakis, Konstantinos Konstantakopoulos, John Dragnis, Semiramis Paliou and Stamatis Tsantanis – have all diversified their portfolios with offshore vessel purchases or newbuildings.

Some of these investors have justified the shift by emphasising the continued “central role” of the offshore oil and gas sector during the gradual energy transition.

“Some people will see light in a tunnel. Some will see darkness. Some of us are right. Some of us are wrong. We see light,” Mr Marinakis said during a shipping panel in 2024, when asked about the reasoning behind his moves in the offshore market.

Delia’s existing fleet

Before its offshore acquisitions, Delia was already active in both the bulk carrier and tanker markets through its subsidiaries Delia Bulkers and Delia Tankers, each currently managing three vessels, according to the company’s website.

Delia Bulkers operates two Kamsarmaxes and one Panamax, all of which joined the fleet in the second half of 2024. The vessels have an average age of around nine years.

Delia Tankers manages two Aframaxes and one MR2 tanker, with an average age of just four years. According to Equasis data, the MR vessel was the first to join the fleet in December 2024, with the two Aframaxes following a month later.