In the newbuilding market, Marmaras Navigation is said to be placing an order for the construction of for the construction of three 180,000dwt bulkers, plus an option for three more, with delivery between late 2014 and 2015. In the tanker segment, Central Mare of Greece placed an order for the construction of a product tanker 49,000dwt at Hyundai Vinashin with delivery in 2014.

Brokers are reporting an order placed by a Greek player at HHI, S.Korea for one (+1) Multipurpose Offshore Construction Vessel unit to be delivered in the second half of 2015 for an undisclosed price. In the secondhand market, MR tanker vessel BALTIC ADONIA I (dwt 37.197 blt 2003 S.Korea) has been sold to Greek buyers according to broker reports.  The acquisition price is approximately USD 12.2 million.

Chilean CSAV went to Samsung for a major container ship order. Seven firm, with an option for further seven 9000 TEU vessels were concluded at a price reported to be around USD 80 million each. A couple of bulk carrier orders at Japanese yards also came to the surface.

Diana Shipping, a global shipping company specializing in the ownership and operation of dry bulk vessels, today announced that it has entered into a time charter contract with Glencore Grain B.V., Rotterdam, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, for one of its Kamsarmax dry bulk carriers, the m/v Maia.

Thenamaris has placed an order with SWS for one bulk carrier newbuilding to be delivered in 2015. The price has not been disclosed. In the secondhand market, brokers report three tanker vessels have been sold to Greek players this week.

Bulk carrier M/V "VALERIA DELLA GATTA" was sold by the mortgagees at auction at the High Court of Aix-en-Provence, France to clients of Diana Shipping of Greece for the firm price of EUR 14.8 million, according to the latest Lion Shipbrokers report. The same report also notes M/T "BRITISHWILLOW" tanker vessel was slod to Cyprus Maritime of Greece for USD 14.2-$15.2 million.

"The demand situation looks rather solid and underpins the optimism that also originates from a lower inflow of tonnage as the year progresses," BIMCO notes in its Dry Bulk Shipping Market Overview & Outlook for February.

S&P activity statistics compiled by Golden Destiny show that Greek owners were particularly active in the secondhand market during the month of January 2013. Greeks invested a total of USD 358.35 million, acquiring 23 vessels in total (1.750.061 dwt). The largest part of their investment involved deals for bulk carriers.

Drewry's latest Dry Bulk Forecaster report suggests that cash-strapped shipowners will scrap younger and younger ships this year as the dry bulk market wallows in the doldrums. A ship as young as 15 years has already been sold for scrap in recent months, and the average scrapping age of Chinese-built Capesizes was 21 years in 2012.

Diana Shipping announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, the Company was the successful bidder for the m/v “Valeria Della Gatta”, a 2009-built Kamsarmax dry bulk carrier for a purchase price of €14.755 million. Separately, the company also announced that it has entered agreed a time charter contract with ADM International Sarl, Rolle, Switzerland, for  dry bulk carrier m/v Alcmene.