China-based Yangzijiang Shipbuilding has signed contracts for the construction of another five bulkers with Asian owners.
The shipbuilder said that the new orders include three 82,000 dwt vessels, one of which was ordered by Japan’s Kambara Kisen, and two 325,000 dwt bulk carriers.
The 82,000 dwt bulkers will be built at the group’s Taicang yard, where Jiangsu Yangzi-Mitsui Shipbuilding is based at.
Together with the orders for two 325,000 dwt bulkers secured in August 2019, Yangzijiang has signed shipbuilding deals worth USD 395 million for seven vessels so far in the third quarter of 2019.
“As ship owners gradually firm up their plan on how to cope with the IMO 2020 emission rules, we saw a surge in enquiries for the building of new vessels. We have successfully turned several of these enquiries into new orders, including orders from Japanese shipowners who are well-known for their high standard on quality,” Ren Letian, Chief Executive Officer of the Group, said.
“We are also working on the negotiations of other potential orders. As market sentiment recovers, Yangzijiang is in an advantageous position to ride the momentum and build up our order book.”