Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 20, COSCO Shipping Bulk has placed an order with Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co (DSIC), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, for the construction of four 210,000 dwt bulk carriers, with an option for an additional ten vessels. The contract value for the firm quartet stands at $308 million, equivalent to $77 million per ship. If all options are exercised, the total order would reach $1.08 billion.

The vessels, scheduled for delivery starting in 2028, will be equipped with dual-fuel engines designed for future conversion to ammonia and/or methanol operation. This configuration will enable substantially reduced greenhouse gas emissions as well as lower output of nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, and particulate matter compared with conventional fuel systems.

The order continues COSCO Shipping Bulk’s systematic fleet renewal programme focused on clean-fuel-ready tonnage. Since December 2023, the company has confirmed orders for at least 18 similar 210,000 dwt bulk carriers across various Chinese shipyards, including previous contracts at Yangzhou COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry and Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding.

COSCO Shipping Bulk currently operates approximately 500 dry bulk vessels, forming part of the wider COSCO Shipping fleet that exceeds 1,500 ships across all segments.

By concentrating newbuild investment on ammonia- and methanol-capable tonnage, COSCO Shipping Bulk is positioning itself to meet evolving environmental requirements while maintaining operational flexibility during the maritime sector’s transition to alternative fuels.

The latest agreement with DSIC reinforces the ongoing cooperation between leading Chinese shipping and shipbuilding enterprises in developing next-generation, lower-emission bulk carrier designs.