COSCO Orders Four Newcastlemax Bulkers at Qingdao Beihai

Chinese dry bulk giant COSCO Shipping Bulk has added four newcastlemaxes at CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding, with China Shipbuilding Trading and ICBC Financial Leasing also involved in the deal.

No price or delivery schedule has been disclosed, although shipbuilding sources have tipped the quartet for handover in 2029. The 210,000 dwt vessels will have designs prepared for future conversion to methanol or ammonia propulsion.

The latest deal is COSCO Shipping Bulk’s second newcastlemax order at Beihai this year, after the company signed for three ships of the same size in January. The quartet adds to a wider dry bulk ordering drive across the COSCO group.