Berge Bulk is the latest company to jump aboard the newcastlemax newbuilding bandwagon.
The Singapore-based company has ordered two ammonia-ready 210,000-dwt bulkers at state-owned Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry in China.
The contract is Berge Bulk’s first order in six years, according to VesselsValue.
The database shows that the last time it ordered newbuildings was in 2018, when it booked two ultramax bulkers at Japan’s Shin Kasado Dockyard and two newcastlemaxes at Qingdao Beihai.
China Shipbuilding Trading Co (CSTC) — the trading arm of China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC) announced Berge Bulk’s latest order on its website.
Pricing and delivery dates were not disclosed.
Newbuilding brokers believe Qingdao Beihai is likely to deliver the two vessels in 2027.
Shipping sources said Berge Bulk has ordered them under its fleet expansion and renewal plan.
One shipping player described the company as being expansion mode and looking for all types of bulk carriers.
As part of the fleet and renewal strategy, it is also said to be seeking to period charter eco-friendly newbuildings to supplement its owned fleet.
Berge Bulk, which TradeWinds has contacted for comment, is one of the world’s leading independent bulker owners. It owns and manages a fleet of about 80 vessels of more than 14m dwt, ranging from handysizes to 400,000-dwt ore carriers.
CSTC said the design of the latest ships was developed in-house by Qingdao Beihai.
They will meet the International Maritime Organization’s tier 3 NOx standards and Energy Efficiency Design Index phase 3 compliance for greenhouse gas emissions.
This is Qingdai Beihai’s second newcastlemax newbuilding deal this week.
On Wednesday, it signed a four-ship contract with Eastern Pacific Shipping, bringing the total number of newcastlemaxes that the shipowner has on order at the yard to 14.
Newbuilding surge
There has been a surge in newbuilding activity for larger bulkers.
Brokers said big companies with deep pockets have been ordering vessels before yard slots “run out”, driven in part by the need to replace the ship type with vessels powered by cleaner fuels.
Companies that have recently ordered the large bulkers include Winning International Shipping, Shandong Shipping, Mitsui OSK Lines and George Economou’s Cardiff Marine.
Clarksons’ Shipping Intelligence Network estimates the orderbook for bulkers between 100,000 dwt and 325,000 dwt at 108 units.
Belgium’s CMB.Tech is believed to have the greatest number of newcastlemaxes on order, with 24 being built at Qingdao Beihai.
