Ta-Ho Maritime of Taiwan is poised to order up to three 85,000-dwt kamsarmax bulker newbuildings.
Industry sources said the Taipei-based company is in serious discussions with Oshima Shipbuilding for the trio, with delivery from the end of 2021.
A source familiar with Ta-Ho confirmed the company’s plans, adding that the order is for two firm vessels plus one option.
“Ta-Ho is ordering the newbuildings as part of the company’s fleet-renewal and replacement plan,” the source said.
Shipbroking sources said Ta-Ho recently sold the CSBC-built, 78,000-dwt Te Ho (built 2004) to ATL Shipping for a reported $7m. VesselsValue puts the worth of the Te Ho at $8.76m.
Early this year, Ta-Ho was reported to have sold the Te Ho’s sistership, An Ho (built 2004), to an undisclosed buyer for $7.8m. But TradeWinds is told that the transaction did not take place and the bulker remains up for sale.
Excluding the Te Ho, Ta-Ho’s existing fleet comprises three kamsarmaxes — the 80,500-dwt Chang Ho (built 2000), and 84,500-dwt Taho Asia and Taho Europe (both built 2018) — and three cement carriers of less than 24,000 dwt.
It also has four kamsarmax bulkers under construction at Oshima and two 24,000-dwt cement carriers at Shin Kurushima Dockyard. These newbuildings were ordered three years ago.
Ta-Ho was reported to be paying around $27m each for the kamsarmaxes and is due to take delivery of two vessels this year and the remaining pair in 2020. The newbuildings are today likely worth $30m to $32m each.
The Shin Kurushima cement carrier newbuildings will be delivered this year.
Ta-Ho is the shipping arm of Taiwan Cement Corp (TCC) and was established in 1979.
The company does not only ship for TCC, but it also carries cargoes for domestic electric power companies and trades with foreign companies such as Rio Tinto and Oldendorff Carriers.
