NEWS
May 21, 2026
DryDel CEO at the 10th Shipping Conference of Η ΝΑΥΤΕΜΠΟΡΙΚΗ | Conferences
At the 10th Shipping Conference of Η ΝΑΥΤΕΜΠΟΡΙΚΗ | Conferences, during the exceptional panel “Geopolitics at Sea: Shipping Between Global Powers”, DryDel’s CEO, Costas Delaportas, spoke about the realistic operational impact of geopolitical crises on dry bulk shipping.
Key points:
➡️ Repatriating our hashtag#seafarers, caught up in the Arabian Gulf, became extremely difficult. The psychological pressure was enormous. They remained trapped onboard for almost 3 months, while seeing drones & missiles above their heads.
Bureaucracy, flights & port limitations, made crew changes a real struggle for everyone who contributed to crew changes efforts. It was truly emotional to welcome them back home a week ago!
➡️ If tensions continue, the concern is not only bunker prices, but also the physical availability. The real question becomes whether we can find fuel, at the right place & at the right time.
One realistic solution could be coordinated slow steaming, to be imposed officially by the IMO or other global shipping regulators. Moving from full to eco speed can save 8–10 tons of fuel/vessel/day. Imagine what this means across a global fleet of 30,000 vessels.
➡️ Geopolitical risk cannot truly be priced by the market. These are not isolated events. One disruption creates a domino effect across global shipping, changing trading patterns & cargo flows.
LinkedIn post: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7463168668647112704