Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (Holdings) Limited has secured a shipbuilding contract for four 260,000DWT very large ore carriers (VLOC).
The shipbuilding contract was secured from an Australia based ore company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and the contract is the first of its kind in Yangzijiang’s orderbook. Even though the Australian customer remained undisclosed, the contract details lead to Fortescue Metals which just ordered four iron ore carriers with a Chinese shipyard.
“Yangzijiang’s ability to break into Australia, a new geographical reach, continues to demonstrate shipowners’ growing confidence in Yangzijiang’s shipbuilding competency, ” the shipbuilder said.
Yangzijiang expects to deliver the VLOCs from 2016 to 2017.
Commenting on this contract win, Mr Ren Yuanlin, Executive Chairman, Yangzijiang said:
“Yangzijiang is emboldened to have secured its first ever 260,000DWT VLOCs order. The Group has observed that shipowners are enhancing their focus on vessels’ operational efficiencies and as a result, the shipbuilding industry is experiencing a rise in demand for larger vessels that provides higher carrying capacity.
“Going forward, we will augment our shipbuilding capabilities to better serve our customers by providing them with a wider range of sophisticated vessels, and particularly towards research and development to continuously improve our vessel designs and shipbuilding process.”
Mr Ren Yuanlin went on to say that: “Previously with first ever 10,000TEU containership orders and now with the orders for 260,000DWT very large ore carriers, we have advanced Yangzijiang to be one of the most prominent shipyards in China. Our dream and ambition does not end here and we aim to develop even more sophisticated, complex and bigger vessels in our endeavour to see Yangzijiang rise as one of the top shipyards in the world.”
On the 11th of June, Yangzijiang held the naming ceremony of the fourth and fifth 10,000TEU containerships, namely, “HANJIN AMI” and “HANJIN TABUL” at their Taicang Yard. On the 16th of June, the shipyard delivered“HANJIN AMI” to the customer, marking the delivery of their fourth 10,000TEU containership.
“The successive completion and deliveries of our 10,000TEU containerships continue to build on our track record and increase our presence in the mega containerships,” he concluded.
[mappress] Press Release, June 18, 2014