Kmarin orders VLOC pair at Beihai Shipbuilding
South Korea ship investment firm Kmarin (Kukje Maritime Investment Corporation) is said to have ordered two 325,000 dwt VLOCs at China’s Beihai Shipbuilding.
According to a report by Allied Shipbroking, the newbuilding contract is part of a 25-year COA arrangement with Brazilian miner Vale and deliveries are scheduled in 2020.
CSIC-affiliated Beihai Shipbuilding has become the most popular shipyard for valemaxes in the past two years. In December, ICBC Leasing ordered six 325,000 dwt VLOCs at the yard and took another three options in January, while Taiwanese owner U-Ming Marine Transport also placed an order for two 325,000 dwt VLOCs. Both companies ordered the ships having secured long term COA deals from the Brazilian miner.
There are now a total of 16 VLOCs under construction at Beihai Shipbuilding after Vale started a new round of shipping capacity expansion last year via COA deals with South Korean and Chinese shipowners.
Kmarin is a ship investment company in the energy transportation sector, and currently the company’s fleet consists of 49 vessels comprising of 29 bulk carriers, 13 tankers, four gas carriers and three containerships.