Singapore-listed Yangzijiang Shipbuilding has raked in orders for 14 newbuildings worth $715m.
The Chinese company claimed its order volume for 2021 has been unmatched since 2008.
In a regulatory filing, the Jiangsu-based shipyard said the orders involved three dual-fuel 40,000-cbm LPG carriers, two 11,800-teu containerships, five 3,500-teu boxships, two 2,400-teu feeder containerships, a 29,800-dwt self-loading bulk carrier and a 9,150-teu chemical tanker.
Yangzijiang did not disclose the names of the companies behind the contracts but said the LPG carriers were ordered by a German shipowner.
The company added that it would deliver all 14 newbuildings between 2022 and 2024.
Shipbuilding sources have named Germany's Hartmann Group as being behind the LPG carrier order.
Yangzijiang described the dual-fuel systems for the ships, which will be able to run on LPG and conventional fuels, as being a breakthrough for the company in the alternative fuel space.
The trio will be constructed by Jiangsu Yangzi-Mitsui Shipbuilding Co (Yamic), a tie-up with Japan's Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding.
Yangzijiang has been eager to build more gas ships.
The last time it secured orders for gas carriers was in 2017, when Evergas signed up for two 27,000-cbm multigas carriers for a reported price of $70m each.
Meanwhile, shipbuilding sources have linked Yangzijiang's latest bulker order to Canada’s Algoma Central, and the pair of 2,400-teu boxships to China United Lines (CU Lines).
The CU Lines’ order was first reported in TradeWinds in mid-June. The Shanghai based liner operator was said to be paying $60m for the containerships and will be taking delivery of them in 2023.
Yangzijiang said that with the latest newbuilding tally, it has secured a total of 89 orders so far this year worth $4.72bn.
The yard added that the last time it received such a high volume of newbuildings was in 2008.
The companies behind the 10 larger containerships and the chemical tanker were not immediately known.
“I am pleased to see Yangzijiang record another milestone in the clean-energy space,” said Yangzijiang chief executive Ren Letian.
“Our shipyard remains fully committed towards sustainable development and will continue its relentless pursuit to ensure that we build relevant vessels with greater energy efficiency through investments and continued emphasis on research and development.
