Latsco Shipping, a company best known for trading tankers and gas carriers, has branched out into container ships as well.
The company revealed in a press release on Thursday that it has recently taken delivery of a pair of 2,000-teu units from Imabari Shipbuilding in Japan.
The ships are already trading as Marla Tiger and Marla Bull.
“This is an important milestone for the company as it enters the container ship segment,” Latsco said in the press release.
Another unusual aspect of the move is that it marks the Latsis group’s first Japanese newbuildings since the 1960s.
The company did not provide any other information on its two freshly delivered container ships, other than to say that they are fitted with scrubbers and equipped with “the latest main electronic engines [and] environmental protection features”.
Clarksons data provides a little more information, saying that both vessels were ordered in March 2021. It also states that Japan’s Shoei Kisen is their owner.
However, the names of the ships clearly point to Latsis.
Latsco owner Paris Kassidokostas-Latsis has been using the Marla brand — named after his mother, Marianna Latsis — for a string of bulker and tanker ventures he has entered in recent years.
The two ships are already gainfully employed.
According to Clarksons, at least one of them — the Marla Bull — entered a two-year charter with Zim on 7 December, earning $28,000 per day.
Both vessels will be managed in-house by Marla Shipmanagement, the dry bulk and container ship arm of the Latsco Group.
A well-rounded shipping group
Ivy Shipping — another Kassidokostas-Latsis venture — is active in bulkers.
Therefore, the addition of the two container ships turns the Greek owner into an even more versatile player.
“Latsco Shipping, through its affiliates Latsco LNG and Marla Shipmanagement, has become a well-diversified shipping group with a presence in LNG, LPG, clean and crude tankers, bulkers and containers,” the company said in its statement.
In a separate, unusual move for a private Greek firm, Latsco recently revealed some key financial and ship emissions data.
In its most recent environmental, social and corporate governance report, the owner of about 30 ships — from VLCCs to LR2s, MRs, LPG to LNG carriers — unveiled it had posted $260m in total revenue in 2021, up 0.4% from 2020.
Latsco’s overall emissions rose slightly in 2021, largely on account of its growing fleet. Its average Annual Efficiency Ratio (AER) — a key environmental measure for the amount of CO2 emitted per tonne-mile of work — edged up to 6.15 from 5.97.
In the ESG report, Latsco said it is closely monitoring ship performance and emissions through state-of-the-art software and hardware systems. However, it added that “close collaboration with charterers” is key towards decarbonising shipping fleets and operations.
The company also stated that it invests in new technologies and participates in various research programmes for alternative fuels and post-combustion carbon-capture solutions.
“We are also looking closely at the liquefied CO2 value chain as we believe it will be an enabler in the production of net-zero,” Latsco said.
