26 / 03 / 2026
On 11 November 2025, we celebrated the naming ceremony of PERSEUS (Hull 11129) at Oshima Shipyard in Japan.
We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone whose dedication contributed to the construction of this superb vessel.
The ceremony was both meaningful and beautifully executed, blending traditional Japanese festive elements, symbolic gestures, and cultural performances wishing good fortune to the vessel, her ownership and management teams, the shipyard colleagues, the Captain, the officers and crew, and all distinguished guests.
At JHI, we take seriously not only the technical excellence of our vessels, but also the consistency and identity of our fleet, its design philosophy, shipyard selection, country of construction, naming tradition, and classification standards.
Our bulk carrier fleet is primarily named after heroes of Greek mythology, while our tanker fleet carries names inspired by Greek deities, constellations, distinguished philosophers and prominent figures of ancient Greece.
Perseus is one of the earliest and most significant heroes of Greek mythology, predating Hercules and sharing the same divine lineage, as both were sons of Zeus. In fact, Perseus stands as an ancestor of Hercules, forming part of the great heroic bloodline of ancient Greece.
According to mythology, when Zeus fell in love with Danaë, the mother of Perseus, who had been imprisoned by her father, King Acrisius, he transformed himself into golden rain in order to reach her. From this divine union, Perseus was born.
Perseus is best known for his legendary slaying of Medusa, the fearsome Gorgon whose gaze could turn anyone to stone. Medusa lived in a remote and unknown part of the world and was guarded by her sisters. Through wisdom, courage, and divine guidance, Perseus succeeded where others could not.
He was particularly favored by Goddess Athena, the embodiment of wisdom, and by God Hermes, symbol of agility and intellect. With their assistance, Perseus was equipped with sacred tools that enabled him to approach Medusa without looking directly at her. After defeating her, he carefully placed her head in a special pouch provided by the gods, aware that its deadly power remained even after her death, as by looking at her could turn anyone into a stone.
From Medusa’s blood emerged two extraordinary beings: Chrysaor and the magnificent winged horse Pegasus, a symbol of strength and transcendence.
Perseus later offered Medusa’s head to Athena, who placed it upon her shield, the legendary Aegis, as a symbol of protection and divine power.
Throughout art history, Perseus has been immortalized in sculpture and painting. The renowned statue in Florence depicts him triumphantly holding Medusa’s head, while Renaissance masterpieces illustrate his rescue of Andromeda, the princess who had been chained to a rock and threatened by Cytos, a sea monster. Perseus defeated the monster, freed Andromeda, and married her, completing another chapter of his heroic journey.
Perseus remains a timeless symbol of wisdom, bravery, decisiveness, and the power to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges, qualities that continue to inspire across generations.
Inspired by this powerful and uplifting mythology, we hope that Perseus, as the first delivered vessel of J.H.I. Steamship Co, will embody the spirit of a true first-order hero within our fleet, overcoming every challenge with strength, precision, and wisdom. Just as her namesake once conquered Medusa, may she navigate every difficulty with confidence and mastery, fully aware of the path ahead.
We also look forward to Perseus soon sailing alongside our vessel Andromeda, the Aframax tanker built at Sumitomo Heavy Industries, which will join our fleet as part of the vessels transitioning to our management from our mother company, SSC. The symbolic connection between the two names further strengthens the identity and continuity of our fleet.
We extend our sincere appreciation to all participants who contributed to this significant milestone. In particular, we thank our valued colleagues Hamaguchi-San of Sumicho Marine, dear Aris-san, Mr. Lynval Palmer of Alberta Ship Brokers (London), Master Captain Olybincki, and the experienced and dedicated crew of the vessel. We are equally grateful to our offshore teams who followed the ceremony remotely and shared in the joy and progress of this important day with our headquarters.
May the myth of Perseus remind us of the power of vision, decisiveness, unity, resilience and of the strength that comes from collective effort and shared purpose in every endeavor.