Thanassis Laskaridis-controlled Alimia Group is ramping up its product tanker presence with MR2 newbuildings after making its debut in the sector last year with an order for a single LR2.
The Athens-based company told TradeWinds that it had signed a contract to build five MR2 tankers at China’s Penglai Zhongbai Jinglu Ship Industry.
No price details were revealed but the company said the conventionally fuelled vessels would be built to a South Korean design with “very high specifications” and without scrubbers.
“Significant extras and upgrades of the vessels have been included,” said the Alimia Group and its ship management unit, Laskaridis Maritime.
The owner is to take delivery of the ships in the last quarter of 2026 and the first half of 2027.
Thanassis Laskaridis and Penglai Jinglu are familiar with each other.
The Chinese yard has built two ultramax bulkers trading for Alimia and is constructing a pair of kamsarmaxes slated to join its fleet in 2026.
Thanassis Laskaridis’ involvement with Penglai Jinglu started when he jointly owned Lavinia Corp and Laskaridis Shipping before splitting his interests with brother Panos in 2021.
His latest deal with Penglai Jinglu brings the two partners’ cooperation into tankers — a ship type the Chinese yard has developed into in recent years.
More orders under the surface
Penglai Jinlu was previously known for building bulkers up to kamsarmax size and container ships.
Over the past 20 years, however, it has also produced ro-ro passenger vessels, bunkering tankers and fishing vessels.
In 2021, it started building MR2 tankers, with a debut order for Raffles Shipping.
Shipping databases list the yard as building about a dozen MR2s for owners such as Hartree Partners and Medcare Shipping.
However, sources say Penglai Jinlu has a much wider portfolio of 25 MR2 newbuildings, representing one of the largest orderbooks for the ship type in China with major clients such as Union Maritime and Champion Chemical.
The Laskaridis’ Alimia Group’s newbuilding portfolio stands at 18 bulkers and tankers: 10 kamsarmaxes under construction at Hengli Heavy Industries, two kamsarmaxes and five MR2 tankers at Penglai Jinlu, and a single LR2 at Yangzijiang Shipbuilding.
Alimia’s existing fleet on the water comprises three capesizes, six kamsarmaxes and seven ultramaxes with a weighted average age of just three years.
