Chinese builders have secured orders for new bulk carriers and heavy lift ships from both domestic and overseas customers. A Chinese-built ammonia-powered bulk carrier has meanwhile completed undergoing sea trials.
Germany's SAL Heavy Lift has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with China's Wuhu Shipyard for five multipurpose heavy lift vessels (HLVs) of 14,600 DWT each.
If converted into construction contracts, the vessels would double an existing SAL HLV series to 10 ships.
The proposed vessels will each feature a spacious cargo hold and broad hatch openings, allowing oversized cargo to be carried with the hatch open.
Each ship will also have two customised hydraulic cranes with a combined maximum lifting capacity of 1,600 tonnes.
Belgian shipowner CMB Tech announced that its dry bulk carrier Mineral Europa had completed sea trials and was preparing for its first voyage to Australia.
The company calls the vessel the first dry bulk carrier globally to use ammonia as fuel, and says it leads a planned series. Its engine can use either ammonia or conventional marine fuel.
The 210,000 DWT Newcastlemax vessel was built by Qingdao Beihai Shipyard in China. It will be sailing under a charter agreement with Fortescue.
In June, the Australian mining company agreed to charter up to 12 CMB Tech Newcastlemaxes. Up to three of them are to be delivered with dual-fuel ammonia engines and the rest are to be delivered ammonia-ready.
Greek shipowner Almi Marine Management has ordered three 64,000DWT Ultramax bulk carriers from China’s COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry for delivery in 2030.
The contract brings Almi’s known forward programme to five Ultramax newbuildings at Chinese yards.
Almi Marine Management managing director Christos Hadjigeorgiou announced the latest order in a social media post dated October 3. The ships will follow two Ultramaxes contracted earlier in 2026 at Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering (NACKS) for delivery in the second quarter of 2029.
In February 2026, Almi resumed ordering newbuildings following a four-year pause.
Thailand’s Precious Shipping signed contracts with China’s Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering on September 30 for four 64,500 DWT Ultramax bulk carriers costing $141.8 million in total.
Each vessel is priced at $35.45 million. The contracts will take effect once the buyer receives refund guarantees covering the first instalments and the yard receives those payments, the company said in a stock exchange notification.
The ships are scheduled for delivery in April, July and October 2030 and January 2031.
Precious Shipping expects its fleet to reach 47 vessels with combined capacity of about 2.34 million DWT after the quartet and two previously ordered ships have been delivered.
COSCO Shipping Specialised Carriers plans to add 22 60,000 DWT multipurpose heavy-lift ships through long-term bareboat charters and newbuildings.
The company announced the plans on September 30, following board approval on September 29 for the charter proposal and eight newbuildings at Dalian COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry.
The six chartered ships will be built at Huanghai Shipbuilding for the company’s Xiamen subsidiary, which it wholly owns. The proposed term is about 20 years, with daily hire of about CNY61,000 ($9,100) per vessel, including tax.
Annual rent for all six ships would total about CNY133.59 million after delivery. The subsidiary will manage the vessels, with the lessor and final terms to be settled in a formal agreement.
