Italy's d'Amico Dry Takes Delivery of 64,000 DWT Ultramax Bulk Carrier

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 10, Italian dry bulk shipowner d'Amico Dry took delivery of the newly built Ultramax bulk carrier "Medi Balto." The vessel, with a deadweight of approximately 64,000 tonnes, was built by China's Nantong Xiangyu Ocean Equipment and is the first ship delivered under the company's new fleet renewal program. The sister vessel of the same design, "Medi Matera," is also under construction at the same shipyard and is expected to be delivered in January 2027.

"Medi Balto" adopts a new-generation bulk carrier design, meeting the International Maritime Organization's Tier III nitrogen oxide emission requirements and complying with Phase 3 Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) and Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) requirements. The vessel is also designed with the capability to use B100 biofuel, allowing it to operate on 100% biodiesel. The cargo holds have been specially strengthened for the transport of steel products, capable of carrying two layers of steel coils and accommodating cargo with individual coil weights of approximately 25 tonnes, expanding the vessel's flexibility between the conventional bulk and steel transport markets.

After delivery, the vessel's maiden voyage is planned from China to Turkey carrying steel products. Once in operation, the new ship will directly participate in dry bulk and steel transport business.

In terms of fleet asset adjustments, d'Amico Dry completed the sale of the Kamsarmax bulk carrier "Medi Positano" in September 2026 to an Asian shipowner for a price exceeding US$32 million. The vessel, built in 2015 with a deadweight of approximately 82,000 tonnes, is expected to be handed over in mid-November following the sale. This transaction, together with the delivery of the new "Medi Balto," constitutes two major asset operations in the company's fleet renewal during the same period: on the one hand, adding a new-generation Ultramax vessel; on the other, exiting an older Kamsarmax vessel.

Following the sale of "Medi Positano," d'Amico Dry's owned fleet will consist of 24 vessels, including 12 Supramax/Ultramax, 10 Kamsarmax/Post-Panamax and 2 Mini Cape vessels. In addition to the delivered "Medi Balto," the company has "Medi Matera" and one Capesize bulk carrier under construction. Meanwhile, the company's fleet operated through long-term charter contracts is also expanding, with 7 long-term chartered vessels currently in operation and another 6 under construction.

The long-term charter orders include 4 Ultramax bulk carriers scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2030; the other two Kamsarmax bulk carriers are scheduled for delivery on November 19, 2026 and in the fourth quarter of 2027, respectively, built by Japan's Yamic shipyard. Through both owned vessel investment and long-term chartering, the company continues to adjust its configuration of vessels across different deadweight classes, covering the Ultramax, Panamax and large bulk carrier markets.

In addition to its owned fleet and long-term charters, d'Amico Dry also operates short-term chartering and market trading business, currently managing 45 vessels through this business, including 12 Handy, 21 Ultramax and 12 Kamsarmax vessels. These vessels form part of the short-term contract operating scale.