U-Ming Marine Transport has become the latest Taiwanese shipowner to head to Japan for newbuilding tonnage.
The Taipei-based shipowner said it had ordered two 100,000-dwt post-panamax bulkers, according to a regulatory announcement.
U-Ming said the ships had been ordered at Oshima Shipbuilding, via trading house Sumitomo Corp, for $37m each.
The company said the vessels were intended to replace existing tonnage as well as expand its business. Delivery dates were not disclosed.
VesselsValue said the two sisterships were scheduled to be delivered sometime during 2022.
U-Ming has been a regular customer of Oshima. Earlier this year, it took delivery of the 82,200-dwt Cemtex Diligence (built 2019).
The shipowner’s only other current newbuildings are two 325,000-dwt ore carriers on order at China’s Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co for delivery in 2020.
Several Taiwanese shipowners have been active in the dry bulk newbuilding market of late with most of their attention focused on Japanese yards.
Taiwan Navigation recently said it had ordered a 80,000-dwt kamsarmax and a 60,000-dwt ultramax bulker for a total of $64.1m.
The ships would be built by Namura Shipbuilding and Oshima Shipbuilding respectively. Delivery dates for the two ships were not disclosed.
Wisdom Marine Group recently confirmed that it was set to return to Tsuneishi Zhoushan Shipbuilding to order two kamsarmax bulker newbuildings.
Its board has approved an order for the 82,300-dwt bulkers at yard for $33m each, according to a regulatory filing.
Taiwan’s First Steamship recently disclosed that it had ordered a new kamsarmax bulker for $33.5m, but did not name the shipbuilder involved.
