Oldendorff Carriers is to retrofit a scrubber to one of its its new kamsarmax bulkers which has just been delivered from Hantong Shipyard, China.
The 81,242 dwt Kai Oldendorff has commenced “long-term” employment with a major international trading house, the German shipowner said in a statement today.
As TradeWinds reported in September, Oldendorff Carriers plans to fit some of the large, modern bulkers in its owned fleet with open-loop scrubbers.
The programme is expected to involve mostly retrofits, as with Kai Oldendorff, but some newbuildings could be equipped with the technology.
Other deliveries
Kai Oldendorff is one of five new bulk carriers delivered to the shipowner from Chinese shipyards.
Most of the delivered vessels already have long-term employment lined up, the company explains.
Ultramax vessels John Oldendorff, Julius Oldendorff and Jan Oldendorff (all 61,400 dwt) have been delivered from Nantong Cosco KHI Ship Engineering and will increase Oldendorff's presence within the sector.
The company had only two ultras in its owned fleet prior to the new arrivals, with another six on order, according to VesselsValue data.
John Oldendorff and Julius Oldendorff have entered into long-term timecharters with an unnamed client, the German shipowner said.
Jan Oldendorff will service contracts of affreightment and spot market cargoes.
Meanwhile, the handysize Christiane Oldendorff (35,762 dwt) has been renamed Midland Trader and was delivered from Samjin Shipyard.
Fleet renewal
Oldendorff Carriers has sold most of its older vessels, having offloaded 25 bulkers since the start of 2017, according to VesselsValue data.
Its owned and bareboat-chartered fleet currently stands at 111 vessels, with an average age of 4.78 years.
“With our remaining order book of 38 newbuildings, including 21 owned, 13 timechartered and 4 bareboat chartered, Oldendorff Carriers will maintain a young and fuel-efficient fleet of bulk carriers going forward,” the company said.
