Norwegian shipping magnate John Fredriksen’s subsidiary Seatankers Management has placed an additional order for two 211,000 dwt Newcastlemax bulk carriers at Dajin Heavy Industry.
According to TradeWinds, Seatankers has now increased its total order for Newcastlemax bulk carriers at Dajin Heavy Industry to eight vessels, with a total investment of approximately USD 594 million (about RMB 4.022 billion). Previously, Dajin Heavy Industry had publicly disclosed the first six orders, with the initial four vessels announced in April this year, and on May 31, Dajin Heavy Industry announced another two bulk carrier orders with the Norwegian shipowner.
These new vessels are scheduled for delivery between the second half of 2028 and 2029. It is worth noting that the construction cost for the first four vessels in this series is approximately USD 73.5 million each, while the cost for the subsequent four vessels has increased by USD 1.5 million (about RMB 10.1572 million) to USD 75 million each.
Industry insiders attribute the price increase to strong demand for newbuildings and full order books at major shipyards. For reference, Clarksons data shows that the current newbuilding price for a 210,000-212,000 dwt Newcastlemax bulk carrier is USD 78.5 million (about RMB 531 million), slightly higher than USD 77 million in the same period last year.
Seatankers has frequently placed orders for large bulk carriers and VLCCs at Chinese shipyards in recent years. According to Clarksons data, Seatankers currently has a total of 32 newbuildings on order, including six Newcastlemax bulk carriers each at Dajin Heavy Industry and China Merchants Shipyard Qingdao, eight VLCCs at Dalian Shipbuilding, two VLCCs at Hengli Heavy Industry, six Suezmax tankers at New Times Shipbuilding, and four offshore vessels (two each at Wuchang Shipbuilding and Zhoushan Pacific Marine Engineering).
Including Seatankers’ latest two vessels, Dajin Heavy Industry has secured orders for 16 Newcastlemax bulk carriers this year, comprising four from US-listed Greek shipowner Danaos, eight from Seatankers, two from Greek shipowner Cape Shipping, and two from an anonymous Greek shipowner. These new vessels are the largest ships Dajin Heavy Industry has built to date and will be constructed at the company’s Tangshan base — Tangshan Dajin Marine Engineering Equipment Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Additionally, in May this year, Dajin Heavy Industry signed a construction contract with renowned Dutch shipowner JUMBO Marine for two 25,000 dwt new-generation green intelligent multi-purpose heavy-lift vessels.
According to publicly disclosed data from Dajin Heavy Industry, the company’s current shipbuilding order backlog exceeds RMB 8.8 billion, with deliveries scheduled from 2027 to 2029.
It is understood that Dajin Heavy Industry was founded in 2000 and listed on the main board of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2010, becoming the first listed company in China’s wind power tower industry. After 20 years of deep industry involvement, Dajin Heavy Industry has firmly established itself in the pioneering echelon of the global wind power equipment manufacturing industry. The company’s main products include: full series of /onshore wind power towers, transition pieces, foundation sections, large steel pipe piles, deep-sea jackets, floating foundations, offshore substations, and other products.
Currently, Dajin Heavy Industry’s products and services are gradually extending from offshore wind power foundation equipment manufacturing to areas such as ocean-going special transportation, ship design and construction, and wind power mother port operations. The company is further laying out and building new energy development and operation businesses, achieving a transformation and upgrade from a product supplier to a system service provider, meeting customers’ one-stop, diversified needs.
Excluding the latest orders, according to Clarksons data, Dajin Heavy Industry currently holds a total order backlog of 21 vessels totaling 3.231 million dwt, including 14 bulk carriers, two heavy-lift vessels, and five deck cargo carriers, with delivery schedules extending to 2029.
