Hebei Ocean Shipping Co (Hosco) is splashing out over $1bn to expand and revamp its bulker fleet. The Chinese company says it is ordering 16 capesize bulkers at domestic yards.
A Hosco official confirms the company has booked four 180,000-dwt capesize newbuildings each at China Shipbuilding Industry Corp (CSIC)-controlled shipyards Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry and Dalian Shipbuilding Industry and will soon be signing up for another eight ships with the state-owned shipbuilding conglomerate.
Hosco says the order of the 180,000-dwt bulker newbuildings is part of its fleet-renewal programme. Currently, Hosco controls13 capesize bulkers ranging from 135,000 dwt to 195,000 dwt and are of an average age of 21 years.
A Hosco official confirms the company has booked four 180,000-dwt capesize newbuildings each at China Shipbuilding Industry Corp (CSIC)-controlled shipyards Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry and Dalian Shipbuilding Industry and will soon be signing up for another eight ships with the state-owned shipbuilding conglomerate.
Hosco says the order of the 180,000-dwt bulker newbuildings is part of its fleet-renewal programme. Currently, Hosco controls13 capesize bulkers ranging from 135,000 dwt to 195,000 dwt and are of an average age of 21 years.