Dutch owner Wagenborg Shipping has continued to expand its series of EasyMax multipurpose newbuildings.

The company said it has ordered a third 14,300-dwt cargo ship at the domestic Royal Niestern Sander shipyard.

The deal also comes with an option for a fourth open-hatch vessel.

No price has been revealed for the deal.

The latest newbuilding will be a sister to the first ship in the series, the 14,300-dwt Egbert Wagenborg (built 2017), and the second, the Maxima (built 2021).

UK shipbroker Clarksons said the third ship is due in April 2023.

The EasyMax concept was jointly developed by Wagenborg and Niestern Sander.

Wagenborg was awarded the KVNR Maritime Shipping Award in 2018 for this ship design, partly due to its superior fuel efficiency.

“The Egbert Wagenborg and Maxima have now proven themselves as sustainable and successful ship types and, together with her future sisters, will continue to contribute to Wagenborg Shipping’s position as a leading multipurpose shipping company,” Wagenborg said.

The shipping company operates 119 vessels.

These are mainly MPPs and general cargo ships, but there are also tugs, a diving support ship, an emergency response and rescue vessel (ERRV) and two floating accommodation units.

In December, the owner agreed a deal to convert a platform supply vessel (PSV) into a walk-to-work ERRV at Niestern Sander.

The 4,200-dwt Hermit Viking (built 2015) was acquired from lenders DNB and SEB.

The banks had taken over the ship and nine sisters during the collapse of Scorpio Group-backed Hermitage Offshore in 2020.