Centrofin Management, the Greek shipowner led by Dimitris Procopiou, has placed an order for two additional 82,000 DWT Kamsarmax bulk carriers from Hengli Heavy Industries to further expand its bulk carrier orderbook.
According to Centrofin’s recently updated fleet list, the company’s order for 82,000 DWT Kamsarmax bulk carriers from Hengli Heavy Industries has increased from six to eight vessels, all of which are scheduled for delivery in 2026.
Shipbrokers report that the first six vessels will be unveiled at the end of 2024. The new vessels will use traditional fuel and be equipped with desulfurization towers.
Including the two additional bulk carriers ordered from Hengli Heavy Industries, Centrofin currently has ordered 12 new vessels. The other four are 156,850 DWT Suezmax tankers built by Samsung Heavy Industries and expected to be delivered in 2028.
It’s worth noting that Chinese shipyards are also involved in the construction of these four Suezmax tankers. In April this year, Samsung Heavy Industries outsourced the four Suezmax tankers ordered by Centrofin to PaxOcean Engineering Zhoushan Co.Ltd (POEZ). Samsung Heavy Industries will be responsible for the design, letters of guarantee, and procurement of equipment and materials for the new vessels, while POEZ will be responsible for the construction.
According to information published on its website, Centrofin currently manages a fleet of 56 tankers and bulk carriers, including newbuildings, with the remaining vessels built between 2005 and 2023. The company has recently been active in the secondhand ship market, reportedly acquiring two Aframax/LR2 tankers from Enesel, which have been renamed the Wave and Ninemia.
In the first half of this year, orders for new dry bulk carriers remained sluggish. According to Veson Nautical data, only 169 shipbuilding contracts were signed in the first half of this year, the lowest figure since the first half of 2017, representing a year-on-year decline of 26%.
By ship type, Panamax/Kamsarmax bulk carriers accounted for 25% of new orders with 42 orders, ranking third, a year-on-year decrease. Ultramax/Supramax bulk carriers now dominate the market, accounting for 38% of orders. Handysize bulk carriers rank third, with only 18 shipbuilding contracts signed so far this year, accounting for only 11% of total dry bulk orders.