Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL) has placed an order for three 56,000 dwt bulk carriers with compatriot Oshima Shipbuilding, according to Asiasis.
The three bulker newbuildings are said to be scheduled to join MOL’s fleet in 2021.
MOL is reportedly paying USD 24 million per ship.
The shipping major already has 70 bulkers in its diversified fleet, totaling in 8.04 million dwt, data from VesselsValue shows.
The order is being reported in the wake of a major recovery of the dry bulk sector which is expected to continue in the next couple of years amid restoring of balance between supply and demand.
For the nine-month period from April to December 2017, MOL reported 14.6 percent higher revenue year-on-year and 53.6 percent higher profit year-on-year, standing at JPY 29.2 billion.
The better financial performance was mainly driven by the group’s containership business which reported 26.8 pct higher revenue year-on-year and its dry bulk shipping unit which reported 19.8 pct higher profit year-on-year.
World Maritime News Staff