1960 – 1976

From 1960 until 1972 close ties were forged with Yugoslavia Builders who over this period delivered three general cargo vessels of 14,000 DWT, two bulk carriers of 26,000 DWT together with another bulker of 46,750 DWT. The most recent of the Yugoslav additions delivered in 1972, two 84,000 DWT OBO’s, “DIAMANTIS PATERAS” & “ARCHONTISSA KATINGO”.

In May 1968, DIAMANTIS PATERAS LTD. became a founder member of the OINOUSSIAN SHIPPING CO-OPERATION. In 1969 a new office was opened in Piraeus called LEANDROS SHIPPING COMPANY S.A., which became the Group’s new Headquarters exclusively for shipping. The London Office became their exclusive Agents. During the early seventies the Group carried out a planned programme of investment for further expansion and ordered four handy size bulk carriers 28,500 DWT from Hakodate, Japan – “PANAGOS D. PATERAS”, “KAPODISTRIAS”, “NAFTOPOROS” & “ELLISPONTOS”.

In 1976, the Group’s fleet gained its largest addition — a 154,000 DWT tanker, “M/T ARCHONTAS”, from Gothenburg, Sweden (photo).