Recently, Nantong Xiangyu Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd. (Nantong Xiangyu SOE) secured its first order for the construction of 210,000 DWT ultra-large bulk carriers (Newcastlemax), marking the company’s expansion into higher-capacity and greener products.
It is reported that Japanese shipowner Doun Kisen has placed an order for three Newcastlemax bulk carriers from Nantong Xiangyu SOE. The market estimated cost of each vessel is US$76 million and is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2028.
This 210,000 DWT bulk carrier has a total length of 299.95 meters, a beam of 50 meters, and a draft of 25 meters. It features a large deadweight tonnage, strong economic efficiency, superior maneuverability, and significant energy-saving advantages, which makes it the mainstay vessel type in the international dry bulk cargo transportation market.
Nantong Xiangyu SOE will adopt a more efficient main engine solution and energy-saving design for this project, striving to build a high-quality vessel that complies with the latest international standards and leads the industry in performance metrics, further meeting shipowners’ high requirements for carbon emission control and fuel efficiency.
It is worth noting that this vessel will integrate and apply a number of energy-saving and emission-reduction technologies, such as the use of high-efficiency propellers, innovative energy-saving appendages and a new generation of hull line optimization design to significantly reduce the main engine power demand and fuel consumption.
Notably, this vessel type will integrate multiple energy-saving and emission-reduction technologies, such as the use of high-efficiency propellers, innovative energy-saving appendages, and next-generation hull form optimization design, significantly reducing main engine power requirements and fuel consumption. Additionally, the vessel is equipped with an exhaust gas cleaning system (EGCS) and a ballast water treatment system (BWMS) to ensure sulfur oxide emissions comply with ECA region requirements; the main and auxiliary engines are fitted with SCR denitrification systems to meet nitrogen oxide emission T3 requirements and the third phase of the design energy efficiency index.
In recent years, Nantong Xiangyu SOE has accumulated a good brand reputation and customer reputation by continuously improving management efficiency, construction capabilities, product quality and delivery speed, and has received orders in batches in the fields of 64,000 DWT, 79,000 DWT and 82,00 DWT series bulk carriers and small and medium-sized stainless steel chemical tankers. As of June 2025, Nantong Xiangyu SOE has received a total of 214 vesselss, 121 of which have been delivered, and 93 are still on hand. The handheld order volume exceeds 5 million tons, and the order volume of its two main products, 64,000 DWT bulk carriers and small and medium-sized stainless steel chemical tankers, ranks among the top in China.
At the same time, Nantong Xiangyu SOE keeps up with the trend of green and intelligent development, and continues to increase R&D investment in energy conservation and emission reduction. For example, the “Jixiang” series of bulk carriers, MR tankers and multi-cargo duplex stainless steel chemical tankers developed by Nantong Xiangyu SOE have achieved lower overall fuel consumption, greater load capacity and tank capacity by optimizing line shape, wind resistance, and adding rotor sails. At the same time, Nantong Xiangyu SOE has also conducted in-depth research on energy conversion technology, made significant progress in the research and development and application of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and methanol dual fuels, and carried out forward-looking design research and technology reserves for ammonia fuel vessels.