Greece’s Latsco Shipping, a major owner of more than 30 tankers and gas carriers, has added to its versatility by bringing a bulker newbuilding order to its already considerable fleet.
Nine months after disclosing the delivery of a pair of feeder container ship newbuildings, the Latsis family outfit revealed on Wednesday that it had placed three ultramax orders in Japan.
The trio of 64,000-dwt vessels has been contracted with Oshima Shipbuilding, Latsco said in a statement.
“This is a historical milestone as it marks the company’s first dry bulk newbuildings in Japan in its 70-year history,” Latsco said.
The company’s container ship deal had been its first order in Japan since the 1960s. They were completed at Imabari Shipbuilding.
Latsco did not say when Oshima would deliver the ultramax newbuildings it has ordered now.
“The aforementioned vessels are considered to be amongst the best designs in the sector, equipped with the most economical engines and built with very high specifications,” the company said.
The Latsis Group predominantly manages oil tankers and gas carriers. However, it also has some exposure to bulkers through four secondhand supramaxes it acquired at the bottom of the market in 2016.
The company said its expansion into ultramax newbuildings now is “in accordance with Latsco’s strategic plan of further diversifying the group”.
All three vessels will be managed by Marla Shipmanagement, the group’s dry bulk and container arm.
