Aqmaris Gemi, a Turkish shipowner established in 2025, has placed orders for 12 Ultramax bulk carriers with two Chinese shipyards; Wuhu Shipyard and Nantong Xiangyu Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd. (Nantong Xiangyu SOE) will build four and eight vessels, respectively, with deliveries expected between 2028 and 2029.
Wuhu Shipyard to build four bulk carriers.
Based on fleet data from the Aqmaris Gemi website, the hull numbers of the four new vessels built by Wuhu Shipyard are W2611, W2612, W2613, and W2614. This batch of new vessels is being constructed by Weihai Wuhu Shipyard and is scheduled for delivery in the third quarter of 2028 and the first quarter of 2029.
In January 2026, Wuhu Shipyard signed a contract with Aqmaris Gemi for the construction of two 64,500 DWT bulk carriers, with options for two additional vessels; the latest fleet list indicates that the two optional vessels have now been confirmed.
Wuhu Shipyard stated that this bulk carrier utilizes the new-generation “Dolphin” design for Supramax bulk carriers. Optimized to meet the latest international environmental regulations and operational requirements, the vessel is characterized by safety, high efficiency, eco-friendliness, and smart capabilities.
Weihai Wuchuan, the company responsible for building this batch of new vessels, commenced operations in late May 2024. It primarily engages in shipbuilding, design, and repair, as well as the development of offshore engineering and offshore wind power equipment. Covering an area of 460,000 square meters, the facility features one 100,000-ton class dry dock and two 50,000-ton class slipways, with a planned total production capacity of 800,000 deadweight tons.
Wuhu Shipyard currently operates three major shipbuilding bases: its headquarters in Wuhu, the Weihai base, and the Nantong base. The Nantong base is a newly established facility where shipbuilding operations have recently commenced; it officially entered service on May 29, 2026, and has transitioned from the construction phase to the production phase.
By leasing and revitalizing two idle dry docks and their associated facilities—formerly belonging to Jiangsu Rongsheng Heavy Industries—the Nantong base has overcome capacity constraints regarding large-vessel construction. Leveraging these large dry docks and high-end equipment, the base primarily constructs large container ships, bulk carriers, and offshore engineering equipment.
Nantong Xiangyu SOE to build 8 bulk carriers.
Nantong Xiangyu SOE is responsible for constructing another eight Ultramax bulk carriers. The first four—bearing hull numbers XYQD-031, XYQD-039, XYQD-040, and XYQD-041—are scheduled for delivery by the fourth quarter of 2028, while the remaining four are set for delivery in 2029. This batch of new vessels is being built by Qidong Xiangyu SOE.
In August 2024, Nantong Xiangyu SOE successfully acquired the core assets of Jiangsu Hongqiang marine Heavy Industry through a judicial auction for 440 million yuan. The assets included 56,352.42 square meters of Hongqiang Marine Heavy Industry’s buildings, a wharf, three slipways for 50,000-100,000-ton vessels, the right to use 682.3 meters of Yangtze River shoreline, and related equipment and patents. Following the acquisition of Hongqiang marine Heavy Industry’s assets, Nantong Xiangyu SOE established Qidong Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd.
In early 2025, Qidong Xiangyu SOE invested 500 million yuan to upgrade its existing facility, introducing over 600 units of intelligent production equipment—including cranes—and comprehensively renovating the site; operations officially commenced on August 1 of that year.
In January 2026, Qidong Xiangyu SOE delivered its first vessel, the “Fanzhou 7”, marking the establishment of full-scale shipbuilding capabilities at the facility, which focuses on constructing energy-efficient and eco-friendly bulk carriers, offshore engineering vessels, and specialized ships.
In the first half of 2026, Qidong Xiangyu SOE generated approximately 850 million yuan in revenue, held an order book of around 40 vessels, and had production schedules mapped out through the end of 2029. For 2026, the company plans to start construction on 12 new vessels, launch 8, and deliver 6; construction on 5 new vessels began during the first half of the year.
Data indicates that Aqmaris Gemi, the Turkish company that placed shipbuilding orders with Wuhu Shipyard and Nantong Xiangyu SOE, is a relatively new shipowner; its current fleet comprises two active Ultramax bulk carriers—named ZEYNEPand EMINE—both built in 2026.
Records show that these two existing bulk carriers were ordered in 2024 and constructed by COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Zhoushan). Upon the delivery of the 12 new vessels from Wuhu Shipyard and Nantong Xiangyu SOE, the size of Aqmaris Gemi’s fleet will expand significantly.