Greek owner DryDel Shipping has expanded its fleet again with a long-term charter.
The former Meadway Shipping & Trading, controlled by chief executive Costas Dellaportas, said it has brought in the 38,500-dwt Twin Delight, delivered from Imabari Shipbuilding in Japan earlier this year.
The owner is Soki Kisen, which is chartering the vessel out for three years at an undisclosed rate.
The Baltic Exchange quoted handysize rates at $14,000 per day on Friday, up 16% over the past month.
DryDel called the delivery ceremony in Japan “a momentous occasion”.
“Here’s to the successful journey ahead for the Twin Delight and to the continued growth and prosperity of DryDel Shipping,” it added.
Dellaportas had earlier told Japan Maritime Daily that DryDel aims to expand its operational scale by increasing its long-term charter fleet from 19 to 30 vessels, including bareboat charters and leaseback deals.
In February, the Athens-based owner changed the name of the company to differentiate it from his brother George’s Meadway Bulkers.
The Greek siblings split the Meadway Shipping & Trading fleet in 2021 following the death of the company’s founder, their father Dionysios, in 2019.
Nine ships on order
George formed Meadway Bulkers, while Costas continued at the original company.
DryDel has nine vessels ranging from handysize to a kamsarmax, with nine more handysizes and ultramaxes on order.
The latest was a 42,300-dwt bulk carrier contracted at Japan’s Oshima Shipbuilding in September, following an identical order it placed there last June.
Both vessels will be delivered in the first half of 2026.
The predecessor company was formed in 1988.
Costas described the split to TradeWinds as amicable in 2021.
