Greek owner Alpha Bulkers places Capesize order amid surging newbuilding momentum

Shipbroking and market sources say Alpha Bulkers has placed an order at Hengli Heavy Industries for two Capesize bulk carriers, with the yard still said to be offering attractive delivery slots compared with other major Chinese shipbuilders.

Alpha Bulkers currently operates a fleet of 33 bulk carriers, of which 19 are Capesize and Newcastlemax vessels.

The company is in the process of renewing its Capesize units. It recently divested its oldest Capesize vessel, 2007-built Antonis Angelicoussis, which has since been renamed and is now trading under different ownership. The owner’s youngest vessels of this size include four units built in 2016, while around 11 Capesize vessels date back to between 2008 and 2011.

Notably, Alpha Bulkers made headlines last year when it entered the container segment with a substantial newbuilding programme for 11 vessels. In bulk shipping, its most recent newbuildings were delivered in 2025 – a pair of Ultramax bulkers.

The broader group has remained active in the newbuilding market this year, with Alpha Gas ordering LNG carriers and Pantheon Tankers contracting Suezmax and VLCC tankers in China.

Strong newbuilding momentum

The Capesize newbuilding market has seen strong momentum in recent months, with Greek owners playing a leading role.

Polys V Hajioannou-led Safe Bulkers recently contracted a Japanese yard for a single 182,000-dwt vessel, scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2029, while also expanding its Kamsarmax orderbook.

Enesel has also contracted Hengli Heavy Industries for two Capesize vessels, while Neda Maritime has also confirmed two units at the same yard following earlier Kamsarmax orders.

Maran Dry, Navios Maritime Partners, Danaos Corporation, and Seanergy Maritime have also placed orders for Capesize and Newcastlemax bulkers this year.

According to data from Xclusiv Shipbrokers, a total of 26 Capesize/Newcastlemax bulk carriers were ordered in Q1 2026, compared with 13 in the same period last year. Greek owners accounted for 12 of these units, after having been largely absent from the segment the previous year.

As of end-April, the orderbook-to-fleet ratio in the segment stood at nearly 15% in dwt terms, Xclusiv Shipbrokers data shows.