Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry, a subsidiary of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), has bagged an order to build four 250,000 dwt iron ore carriers from Shandong Shipping Corporation. The Chinese shipowner claimed that the newbuildings will feature fuel savings and faster cargo loading, raising the overall efficiency of the ships.
“The four large tonnage ore carriers will be used to transport cargoes for BHP Billiton under a 10-year contract. The newbuildings will give Shandong Shipping a total iron ore fleet capacity of 2.36m tonnes,” said Zhao Xianfu, deputy general manager of Shandong Shipping. Financial details of the newbuilding deal were not disclosed. The new carriers are expected to hit the waters within the next three years.