If two makes a trend, the launch of two new ship brokerages in Athens last week certainly deserves to be described as such, especially since TradeWinds understands that a third new venture is also due to be announced soon.

Conventional wisdom would suggest that Parallax Shipbrokers and Xclusiv Shipbrokers, the new kids on the Greek sale and purchase block, have picked this moment to go independent to benefit from rising business volumes as markets for dry bulk and containerships recover.