Greeks top global spending chart on secondhand ships
Greek shipowners remain the biggest spenders on vessels in the world, having invested over $2.3 billion in the first eight months of 2009 to buy 118 ships, according to the Allied ship brokerage firm. They are followed by the Chinese with $1.7 billion and the Norwegians with $559 million. Greeks have spent $1.7 billion this year on dry-bulk carriers, $535.5 million on tankers and $52.3 million on container ships. One reefer vessel bought cost $3.7 million. However, this is in contrast to last year’s spending on 197 ships, which reached $8 billion as far as Greek shipowners are concerned. That is also dwarfed by the $17 billion spent on 445 vessels in 2007.
