The Baumarine by MaruKlav panamax bulker pool has added its first new shipowner since it was formed by Torvald Klaveness and Marubeni in January.
The joint venture company said U-Ming Marine Transport of Taiwan is joining as it seeks to expand vessel numbers.
The Taiwanese company is placing its 85,000-dwt Cemtex Honor (built 2015) under the management of pool operator MaruKlav, which was formed when the Baumarine pool and Marubeni's MG Harrison Shipping fleet joined forces to create the world's largest panamax pool.
Now renamed Baumarine by MaruKlav, it will oversee 31 ships from early April, but aims to expand to 45 bulkers by the end of this year.
The idea is that the increased fleet size gives shipowners increased global exposure and enables core chartering teams to optimise in terms of duration and direction at any given time.
"With the long-term vision of challenging existing period structures and pool models, Baumarine has already secured U-Ming Marine and is seen as an attractive option for owners," the company said.
Knowledge swap anticipated
U-Ming president CK Ong said his company believes both sides can learn from the arrangement.
MaruKlav managing director Michael Jorgensen added: “This is a great day for the pool. With U-Ming we have secured the support of a strong global leader within dry cargo transportation, and together we will grow even stronger.”
U-Ming is listed with 39 ships, including four on order, with another seven of similar size to Cemtex Honor.
The pool has said that data insights and analytics will be the main drivers for decision making and positioning of the pool vessels.
Baumarine by MaruKlav is now Klaveness' only bulker pool interest, after it agreed to sell the world's oldest such operation, Bulkhandling, to Denmark's Clipper Group this week.
Bulkhandling handles supramaxes and ultramaxes, but Klaveness said last year it wanted to focus on the bigger vessel sizes.
