Helix Shipping & Technical Services

What Helix Shipping & Technical Services does

Helix Shipping & Technical Services Ltd. is a London-headquartered marine consultancy founded in 1966 by John E. Frangoulis and now led by his son Elias Frangoulis as Managing Director. The firm operates as an independent technical representative for ship owners during newbuild construction, providing five interconnected core services: appraisal of technical specifications from competing shipyards, technical negotiations between owner and builder, approval of plans and drawings, on-site supervision of construction, and audits of shipyards and subcontractors. Since 2004, Helix has managed 217 newbuild projects spanning dry cargo vessels (105), oil tankers (70), gas carriers/VLGCs (27), container ships (11), and offshore PSVs (4), with deep coverage of Japanese, Korean, and Chinese shipyards.

The business model is project-based professional services: Helix is engaged directly by ship owners (predominantly Greek shipping companies) under multi-year contracts tied to specific newbuild programs, with fees that are quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Revenue is generated from per-project supervision mandates running from steel cutting through sea trials and delivery. The go-to-market is relationship-driven, relying on referrals within the Greek ship-owning community and direct outreach by the Managing Director, with no intermediaries or channel partners. Geographic reach spans 14 countries, with active on-site presence and a newly opened site office at Hengli Dalian in China (November 2025) reinforcing capacity at the largest newbuild hubs.

Helix is family-owned and has never raised external capital; there are no institutional investors, parent companies, or subsidiaries. The firm is differentiated by its six-decade track record, locally hired inspector teams fluent in host-country shipyard standards and practices (Japan, Korea, China), and the personal relationships maintained by leadership with classification societies including Lloyd's Register, where Elias Frangoulis sits on the Technical Committee.

Name

Helix Shipping & Technical Services

Legal name

Helix Shipping & Technical Services Ltd.

Website

https://helix1966.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Helix Shipping & Technical Services is a London-based, family-owned marine consultancy founded in 1966 that acts as ship owners' authorized representative for newbuild construction, providing technical specification appraisal, plan approval, and on-site supervision at Asian shipyards for primarily Greek shipping clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Consulting Services

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Other Support Activities for Water Transportation (48839)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Project Management & Owner’s Engineering / Technical Consultancy (Spec Writing, Bid Support, Site Support) (IMAJAGAO)

Keywords

• Marine consulting
• Shipbuilding supervision
• Newbuild construction
• Ship owner representation
• Technical specification appraisal

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Technical Consultancy Services: Professional services revenue from providing shipbuilding technical oversight, plan approval, and construction supervision to ship owners. Services are project-based, tied to specific newbuild construction contracts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Helix Shipping & Technical Services is a marine consultancy that acts as the ship owner's authorized representative at shipyards, delivering technical appraisal of specifications, formal technical negotiations with builders, approval of plans and drawings, on-site construction supervision, and audits of shipyards and subcontractors. The services are project-based and tied to specific newbuild construction contracts, primarily executed at shipyards in Japan, Korea, and China for international (notably Greek) ship owners. Since 2004 the firm has managed 217 shipbuilding projects spanning dry cargo vessels, oil tankers, gas carriers, container ships, and offshore PSVs.

Product overview

Helix Shipping & Technical Services Ltd is a marine consultancy providing technical services to the shipping industry, particularly in new ship construction. The company operates as a unified service offering encompassing five interconnected core services: Appraisal of Technical Specification, Technical Negotiations, Approval of Plans, Supervision of Construction, and Audit of Shipyards and Subcontractors. Since 2004, they have managed shipbuilding projects including 105 Dry Cargo vessels, 70 Oil Tankers, 27 Gas Carriers, 11 Container Ships, and 4 Special Offshore PSVs across multiple countries including UK, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Korea, China, and Philippines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Appraisal of Technical Specification Evaluation of outline specifications from various shipyards with detailed analysis of technical offers to ensure owner requirements are satisfied; intended for ship owners evaluating competing shipyard bids for newbuild vessels.
• Technical Negotiations Formal technical negotiations between ship owner and shipbuilder to discuss technical details and amend the Technical Specification to reflect agreed results; intended for ship owners finalizing newbuild contracts with shipyards.
• Approval of Plans Approval of plans and drawings submitted by shipbuilders before construction commencement, involving regular correspondence with shipyards and classification societies; intended for ship owners needing technical sign-off on design documentation during newbuild projects.
• Supervision of Construction On-site supervision of ship construction as the ship owner's authorized representative, overseeing progress, quality, and adherence to agreed rules, regulations, design, and standards; intended for ship owners commissioning newbuild vessels at shipyards in Japan, Korea, China, and other countries.
• Audit of Shipyards and Subcontractors Evaluation and audit of shipyards and their subcontractors as part of newbuild services; intended for ship owners and financiers who need independent assessment of yard capability and supply chain before or during construction.

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Lloyd's Register of ShippingcoreTechnology or IntegrationManaging Director Elias Frangoulis serves as Member of the Technical Committee of Lloyd's Register of Shipping, indicating a close working relationship with this classification society.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DNV: DNV is a global classification society providing ship classification, advisory, and technical assurance. A broader incumbent whose marine advisory and newbuild-related services overlap with Helix's supervision and plan-approval work.
• American Bureau of Shipping (ABS): ABS is a major classification society providing plan approval, newbuilding surveys, and technical advisory. A broader incumbent with overlapping plan-approval and yard-supervision capabilities.
• Lloyd's Register: Lloyd's Register is a major classification society with adjacent technical advisory and plan-approval services. Helix's MD sits on its Technical Committee; LR is a broader incumbent with overlapping but non-identical capabilities.
• Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore: Bureau Veritas is a leading classification society offering ship classification, newbuilding supervision, and technical advisory. A broader incumbent whose newbuild-related services compete partially with Helix's supervision offering.
• RINA Services: RINA is an Italian classification society with marine consultancy and newbuilding advisory services. A broader incumbent offering plan approval, supervision, and technical advisory competitive with Helix's scope.

Direct peers

• Mønsen & Berger: Mønsen & Berger is a Norwegian marine consulting firm providing newbuilding supervision, plan approval, and owner's representation services. Highly analogous to Helix in scope and customer base (commercial shipowners).
• Arup Maritime: Arup's maritime practice offers naval architecture, marine engineering, and owner's engineer services for shipbuilders and shipowners. Comparable as a professional marine consultancy with overlapping technical-supervision capabilities.
• BMT Group: BMT is a maritime engineering consultancy providing ship design, owner's engineering, and technical advisory services to shipowners and operators. Highly comparable as a professional-services marine consultancy supporting newbuild and conversion projects.
• Royal HaskoningDHV Maritime: Royal HaskoningDHV's Maritime unit provides ship design, naval architecture, and owner's engineering services globally. Closely comparable to Helix in offering owner's representation and technical supervision across shipbuilding programs.

Regional players

• China Classification Society: China Classification Society is the PRC's primary classification society, providing plan approval and newbuilding surveys at Chinese yards. Regionally focused and a partial competitor/partner in Helix's largest geographic market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Helix Shipping & Technical Services