Greek shipowner Danaos Corporation is expanding its push into dry bulk, adding two more newcastlemax newbuildings at Chinese yards as part of a broader diversification strategy.

The New York-listed company confirmed the contracts in its latest annual report, revealing orders for a brace of 211,000 dwt vessels scheduled for delivery in 2028.

The latest additions lift Danaos’ newcastlemax programme to four vessels, with the quartet carrying a combined price tag of about $297.3m.

The John Coustas-led company has been steadily building a position in the dry bulk sector in recent years, largely through secondhand acquisitions. Since 2023, it has bought 11 capesize bulkers, including one scheduled to join the fleet in March 2026.

The move also marks a shift for a company best known as a major containership tonnage provider, which, as of February 2026, owned 75 boxships with a combined capacity of 477,491 teu and a substantial newbuild orderbook of 27 vessels, representing an additional 174,550 teu of capacity.

Danaos has been particularly active in the newbuilding market since 2022, ordering 35 container vessels with a total value of about $2.7bn. Eight of those ships have already been delivered.

The dry bulk expansion adds another layer to the company’s diversification drive, which now stretches into multiple shipping segments. Earlier this year, Danaos disclosed a strategic investment in the Alaska LNG project, marking its first direct move into the energy sector, with plans in motion for a series of LNG carrier newbuilds.