Taiwan’s U-Ming Marine Transport is adding ultramax bulkers to its growing fleet.
It has commissioned New Dayang Shipbuilding to construct four 64,000-dwt ships.
This is the third ultramax contract U-Ming has signed at the Chinese shipyard since 2022, bringing the total to eight LNG-ready vessels.
A shipyard official confirmed the latest order. He said New Dayang will deliver the first two ships in 2027 and the final two in 2028.
The price has yet to be confirmed. Brokers think they would cost about $35m apiece.
They will be built using New Dayang’s in-house Crown 63-Plus ultramax design.
U-Ming is believed to have ordered the quartet as part of its fleet expansion and renewal programme in response to the International Maritime Organization’s 2050 net-zero greenhouse target.
It recently took delivery of the 64,000-dwt bulk carrier Asian Prosperity (built 2024) from New Dayang. It is the third ultramax the shipyard has delivered to U-Ming.
U-Ming said the Asian Prosperity’s outer hull was coated with Hempel X8 high-performance antifouling paint, which will help to save 5% to 8% in fuel consumption.
It added that the ship has received the LNG-ready classification from the American Bureau of Shipping, indicating its potential for future conversion to using LNG as fuel.
U-Ming is scheduled to take delivery of a fourth ultramax from New Dayang in the first quarter of next year.
U-Ming, the largest publicly listed bulker company in Taiwan in terms of gross tonnage, has a fleet of 71 vessels that includes capesizes, panamaxes, post-panamaxes, ultramaxes, cement carriers, VLCCs, VLOCs and crew transfer vessels for offshore wind power.
