Wuhu Shipyard recently secured new orders for two types of bulk carriers totaling 10 vessels from domestic and international shipowners, with a combined value of approximately RMB 2.2 billion.
**Wah Kwong Maritime Orders 4 Ultramax Bulk Carriers**
It is reported that Wah Kwong Maritime Holdings Limited recently signed a construction agreement with Wuhu Shipyard for four 64,000 DWT Ultramax bulk carriers, with a total contract value of approximately USD 132 million (about RMB 948 million), equivalent to USD 33 million per vessel. The new ships are scheduled for delivery in 2028.
For reference, Clarksons’ data shows that the current newbuilding price for a 61,000–64,500 DWT Ultramax bulk carrier is around USD 33.5 million, slightly lower than the USD 35 million recorded during the same period last year.
This marks Wah Kwong Maritime’s second order for Ultramax bulk carriers after its four Crown 63PLUS bulk carriers ordered at New Dayang Shipbuilding last year. It is understood that Wah Kwong Maritime placed orders for four 63,000 DWT bulk carriers at New Dayang Shipbuilding in April and May last year, with each vessel priced at approximately USD 35 million at the time.
Wah Kwong Maritime is a Hong Kong-based family-owned private shipping company with over 70 years of history. Its business covers ship ownership, ship management, technical consultancy, and dry bulk operations. With a global perspective, the company has offices in Shenzhen, London, and Genoa. Founded by Mr. T.Y. Chao in 1952, it is currently managed by the third generation of the Chao family. Wah Kwong Maritime owns and operates a diversified fleet and provides full-lifecycle ship management services to clients in China, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The company is a leader in shipping decarbonization and a pioneer in technological development, demonstrating the feasibility of these technologies through research and demonstration.
In July this year, Wah Kwong Maritime signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Wuhu Shipyard, its subsidiary Yingxing Financial Leasing (Anhui) Co., Ltd., and Anhui Haizhi Equipment Research Institute to jointly establish an integrated cooperation system combining “shipping operations + equipment manufacturing + financial services,” breaking new ground in creating an industrial ecosystem covering the entire lifecycle of vessels.
**PZM Orders 6 × 45,000 DWT General Cargo Ships**
Meanwhile, Polish shipowner Polska Żegluga Morska (PZM) confirmed an order for 4+2 × 45,000 DWT Supramax general cargo ships at Wuhu Shipyard. The new vessels are scheduled for delivery in early 2028, with the exact price undisclosed. Clarksons estimates each ship to cost approximately USD 29.5 million, bringing the total contract value to USD 177 million (about RMB 1.271 billion) if the optional orders are confirmed.
The series adopts the BLUETECH 45 design from Finnish company BLUETECH. The vessels measure 190 meters in length, 31.84 meters in beam, and 16 meters in depth, featuring a modern streamlined hull form that reduces water resistance across all speeds. Combined with BlueFin propulsion enhancement technology, the design significantly improves propulsion efficiency. Equipped with high-efficiency propellers allowing a 6% light-load margin, the vessels can dynamically adjust output based on actual cargo load, achieving leading fuel economy and cargo capacity in their class, making them a benchmark in the Supramax bulk carrier market.
PZM stated that these new vessels not only enhance capacity but also offer excellent economic efficiency, modernity, and high performance, helping the company maintain competitiveness in the global bulk transport market.
It is understood that PZM is Europe’s largest state-owned dry bulk shipowner and a key operator in the international Seawaymax bulk shipping industry. Established in 1951, the company has over 70 years of operating history in the international shipping market. Over the years, PZM has built cooperative relationships with major global cargo suppliers. The company also continues to deepen its presence in the U.S. Great Lakes market, which is currently one of its strategic focus areas. According to its website, PZM’s fleet comprises 50 vessels with a total capacity exceeding 2 million DWT.
PZM has a long-standing partnership with Chinese shipyards. Prior to the Wuhu Shipyard order, the company placed orders for 12 × 37,000 DWT Seawaymax bulk carriers at Shanhaiguan Shipbuilding between 2022 and 2023, of which seven have been delivered and five will be delivered this year and next. PZM has also previously collaborated with shipyards such as Yangzijiang Shipbuilding and New Times Shipbuilding. However, the latest order marks PZM’s first cooperation with Wuhu Shipyard.
**About Wuhu Shipyard**
Wuhu Shipyard traces its origins to the Fujiheng Machinery Factory established in 1900. In 2007, Chery acquired the shipyard and restructured it into Wuhu Xinlian Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., relocating to the new Sanshan facility in 2010. Now renamed Wuhu Shipyard Co., Ltd., it is a first-tier modern shipbuilding enterprise in China.
As a backbone shipbuilder with 125 years of history, Wuhu Shipyard has always prioritized serving national strategies and achieving breakthroughs in high-end vessel construction. In 2024, the shipyard’s industrial output exceeded RMB 8 billion, with its chemical tanker new orders ranking first globally, while its market share in multipurpose vessels and product tankers remains among the world’s leaders. Leveraging intelligent production lines, Wuhu Shipyard is accelerating R&D in green and smart vessels, supporting the global shipping industry’s low-carbon transition with cutting-edge technology.
Under the guidance of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, Wuhu Shipyard has pioneered the transformation from a traditional manufacturer to an integrated “smart manufacturing + services” solution provider, establishing a comprehensive industrial ecosystem that includes Haizhi Equipment Research Institute (R&D and design), Yingxing Financial Leasing (financial support), Sandianshui New Energy (green energy), and Zhiyuan Supply Chain (supply chain services), delivering value-added services that exceed global clients’ expectations.
Excluding the latest orders, Clarksons data shows that Wuhu Shipyard currently holds an orderbook of 105 vessels totaling 3.41 million DWT, including 71 tankers, 13 multipurpose vessels, 10 bulk carriers, 5 offshore vessels, 3 containerships, and 3 other vessel types, with deliveries scheduled through 2029.
