On September 30, China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Beihai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., jointly with China Shipbuilding Trading Co., Ltd. (CSTC), successfully signed a construction contract for two 210,000 DWT bulk carriers with Taiwan’s Chinese Maritime Transport Ltd. (CMT). This marks another collaborative project between the parties in the 210,000 DWT bulk carrier segment, fully reflecting the mutual trust and support, and also demonstrating the shipowner’s high recognition of the product quality of Beihai Shipbuilding.
The construction contract was signed by CMT General Manager Dai Shengjian, CSTC Asia-Pacific Department Deputy General Manager Zheng Minsheng, and Beihai Shipbuilding General Manager Luo Le. Leaders and distinguished guests, including CMT Chairman Peng Shixiao and Beihai Shipbuilding Chairman O’Chuanjie, attended the signing ceremony.
According to the announcement released by CMT, these two vessels are scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2028, with a cost of approximately USD 76 million to 79.8 million (around RMB 541 million to 568 million) per vessel. This amount is consistent with the unit price of the four Newcastlemax bulk carriers ordered by CMT from CSBC Corporation, Taiwan in August last year.
For reference, data from Clarksons shows that the current newbuilding price for a 205,000-210,000 DWT Newcastlemax bulk carrier is USD 77 million, which has declined from the historical high of USD 80 million during the same period last year.
The newly contracted vessels are the fifth-generation “Polaris” 210,000 DWT bulk carriers independently designed by CSDC (China Ship Design & Research Center Co., Ltd.). The vessels have an overall length of 300.00 meters, a molded breadth of 50.00 meters, a molded depth of 25.20 meters, and a scantling draft of 18.50 meters. This generation of the ship type has undergone comprehensive optimization in hull lines, considering the operational characteristics of both full load and ballast voyages, with a particular focus on optimizing wave-added resistance in heavy sea conditions. The overall propulsion efficiency has been improved by more than 6% compared to the previous generation. The environmental design meets EEDI Phase 3 and NOx Tier III standards and is equipped with an EGCS system to reduce sulfur oxide emissions, achieving breakthroughs in both efficiency and environmental protection.
CMT is currently primarily engaged in international bulk carrier transportation and has established its own fleet of Capesize bulk carriers, serving major charterers globally. Beihai Shipbuilding adheres to focusing on its main shipbuilding markets and has constructed and delivered over a hundred various types of large dry bulk carriers, holding a leading global market share in the large bulk carrier segment. The core businesses of both parties are highly aligned, with consistent development goals, indicating significant potential and space for cooperation.
Including the two vessels from Beihai Shipbuilding, CMT currently has six Newcastlemax bulk carriers under construction. Among them, the four vessels being built by CSBC Corporation, Taiwan are scheduled for delivery in two batches: the second half of next year and the first half of 2027. These new vessels will be used to renew and expand the fleet. Currently, CMT’s fleet consists of 12 Capesize bulk carriers, with a future target fleet size of 20 vessels.
Beihai Shipbuilding will always uphold the business philosophy of “Customer First, Co-creating the Future,” allocate high-quality resources, form a specialized project team, strictly control construction quality and schedule milestones, and ensure the high-quality and timely delivery of the vessels. Subsequently, both parties will continue to maintain close communication, deepen the sustainable development cooperation strategy, achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and jointly build and deliver world-class vessels that are green, energy-saving, environmentally friendly, and efficient!
Including the latest order, data from Clarksons shows that Beihai Shipbuilding’s current orderbook totals 69 vessels amounting to 16.63 million DWT, comprising 60 bulk carriers and 5 tankers, with deliveries scheduled until 2029.
