Greek shipowner Enesel Group is accelerating its expansion in the dry bulk shipping market, having finalized orders for two types of eight bulk carriers at two Chinese private shipyards.
According to Enesel’s official fleet data, the shipowner has placed an additional order with Hengli Heavy Industry for two 181,500 dwt Capesize bulk carriers, bringing the total number of vessels of the same type under construction to four, with hull numbers HL-B181K-17, HL-B181K-38, HL-B181K-50, and HL-B181K-51. The first two vessels were announced in April. It has also ordered four 63,500 dwt Ultramax bulk carriers from Hantong Shipbuilding, with hull numbers HT 64-632, HT 64-636, HT 64-662, and HT 64-663.
All of these new vessels are scheduled for delivery between the second quarter of 2027 and the first quarter of 2028. The Capesize bulk carriers have an overall length of 291.95 meters, a beam of 45 meters, a speed of 14.5 knots, and are classed by Det Norske Veritas (DNV). The Ultramax bulk carriers have an overall length of 199.9 meters, a beam of 32.26 meters, a speed of 13.5 knots, and are classed by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).
Shipbrokers report that Hengli Heavy Industry’s current newbuilding price for 180,000 dwt Capesize bulk carriers is around $78 million. For reference, the total cost of Enesel’s four new vessels is approximately $312 million.
The price for the Hantong Shipbuilding order has also not been disclosed, but the shipyard’s recent newbuilding price for Ultramax bulk carriers is around $35 million. For reference, the total cost of the aforementioned four new vessels is approximately $140 million. The total value of the eight new vessels exceeds $450 million.
Notably, this increase in newbuilding order backlog is a key move for Enesel’s return to the dry bulk market. The shipowner had previously completely exited the dry bulk shipping market in 2025 by selling three Capesize bulk carriers to Hayfin Capital as part of a fleet restructuring. Simultaneously, it took advantage of strong market conditions to sell several tankers, primarily /LR2 tankers and Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs).
Currently, Enesel operates a diversified fleet comprising tankers, bulk carriers, and container ships, specifically including 11 tankers and 11 container ships, with the 8 bulk carriers all being newbuildings. The tanker types include VLCCs, Suezmax tankers, and /LR2 tankers. The container ships range in size from 10,600 TEU to 15,440 TEU.
Recently, Hengli Heavy Industry and Hantong Shipbuilding have been “focal shipyards” in the newbuilding market.
Hengli Heavy Industry is reportedly set to secure an order from Mediterranean Shipping Company for up to twenty 20,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container ships. This order rumor has been confirmed by multiple shipbrokers and market sources, but the shipyard and the shipowner have not yet confirmed it. Mediterranean Shipping Company has previously ordered nearly 30 ultra-large container ships from Hengli Heavy Industry, ranging in size from 21,000 TEU to 24,000 TEU.
Since June, Hantong Shipbuilding has achieved significant success in the tanker and bulk carrier markets. According to incomplete statistics, this includes 8 VLCCs, 4+2 115,000 dwt tankers, 2+2 211,000 dwt bulk carriers, and 4 82,000 dwt bulk carriers.
