From GSP 03: ALEX HADJIPATERAS · · Kelly Gerakoudi
“Shipping is highly cyclical — many companies have disappeared after booms — so you should be very careful about cycles, keep leverage at a low to medium level and maintain a strong balance sheet to survive downturns; restructurings and refinancings may be necessary.”
On , Alexander Hadjipateras, Chief Operating Officer at DORIAN LPG LTD, spoke about market cycles during GSP 03: ALEX HADJIPATERAS on Kelly Gerakoudi.
Alexander Hadjipateras, Chief Operating Officer at Dorian LPG, has spoken in several industry forums about the challenges and opportunities facing shipping, particularly regarding decarbonization, technology, and human factors. He has described decarbonization as both exciting and daunting, noting that there is no short-term panacea and that collaboration between shipowners and major customers is needed to guide solutions. Hadjipateras has stated that Dorian LPG has invested in a carbon capture company and that he believes carbon capture will be part of a bridge solution for meeting environmental targets. He has also discussed the use of data and automation, saying the company uses a tool that asks crew daily questions about their well-being and that data is increasingly used for human factor assessment)Skip. He has expressed optimism about Greek shipping, citing young talent and a fading brain drain, while also calling for a stronger startup ecosystem in Greece to support maritime innovation. Hadjipateras has addressed geopolitical and operational challenges, including the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on seafarers. He stated that Dorian LPG has Russians and Ukrainians on the same vessels and has helped relocate Ukrainian families, while working to accommodate Russian seafarers wanting to extend contracts. He described the situation as extremely challenging and said the company has tripled down on communication with vessels. On the topic of safety, he noted that the company joined the Together in Safety platform and focuses on incident prevention through a structured approach. Hadjipateras has also commented on the cyclical nature of shipping, advising that companies should keep leverage low and maintain strong balance sheets to survive downturns.