Diversified shipowner Union Maritime is bolstering its orderbook, with its newbuild fleet expanding to 69 vessels; approximately 90% of these are being built by Chinese shipyards, with Wuhu Shipyard securing the largest share of the orders.
Market reports indicate that Union Maritime is rapidly expanding its presence in the gas carrier market. The company recently placed an order with the private Chinese shipbuilder Yangzijiang Shipbuilding for two 88,000 cbm Very Large Ammonia Carriers (VLACs). These vessels will be constructed by New Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, with the first scheduled for delivery in 2029 and the second in 2030. Yangzijiang Shipbuilding has confirmed the order in its quarterly report.
To date, Union Maritime has ordered a total of four large gas carriers; the other two are 90,000 cbm Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs) being built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, with delivery slated for 2029.
According to fleet data from Union Maritime’s official website, the shipowner’s active fleet comprises 109 vessels—including 89 tankers, 15 dry bulk carriers, and 5 offshore vessels—with another 69 newbuilds currently under construction. Tankers account for over 72% of the orderbook (50 vessels), alongside 4 gas carriers and 15 dry bulk carriers.
Fleet data indicates that Union Maritime’s current newbuild projects are distributed across shipyards in China, South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam—with 61, 4, 2, and 2 vessels on order, respectively—with Chinese shipyards accounting for approximately 90% of the total. These vessels are scheduled for delivery between 2026 and 2030. By shipyard, Wuhu Shipyard holds the largest volume of orders, with 20 vessels yet to be delivered, followed by Mawei Shipbuilding and Penglai Zhongbai Jinglu Ship Industry Co., Ltd. (Jinglu Shipyard), each holding orders for eight vessels.
According to statistics, Union Maritime’s orders at Chinese shipyards include: four 211,000 DWT bulk carriers, eight 50,000 DWT product tankers, and eight 18,500 DWT chemical tankers at Wuhu Shipyard; two 82,000 DWT bulk carriers at Hengli Heavy Industries; one 64,500 DWT bulk carrier and four 40,500 DWT bulk carriers at Jiangmen Nanyang Ship Engineering; two 64,000 DWT bulk carriers at Nantong Xiangyu Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd. (Nantong Xiangyu SOE); one 115,000 DWT product tanker at Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (DSIC); one 114,000 DWT Aframax tanker at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding; two 114,000 DWT Aframax tankers at Yangzhou COSCO SHIPPING Heavy Industry; eight 113,600 DWT product tankers at Mawei Shipbuilding; two 112,500 DWT product tankers at New Times Shipbuilding; two 49,200 DWT product tankers at Huanghai Shipbuilding; eight 50,000 DWT product tankers at Jinglu Shipyard; two 25,900 DWT chemical tankers at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard; four 24,200 DWT product tankers at Dalian Shipbuilding Offshore Co. (DSOC); and two 88,000 cbm VLACs at Yangzijiang Shipbuilding.
The contract for two 82,000 DWT bulk carriers from Hengli Heavy Industries was signed in early July 2026, with delivery expected in the first quarter of 2029.
In addition, Union Maritime holds orders for one 82,400 DWT bulk carrier at Tsuneishi Shipbuilding (Japan), one 40,500 DWT bulk carrier at Imabari Shipbuilding (Japan), two 50,000 DWT product tankers at Onomichi Dockyard (Japan), two 115,000 DWT product tankers at HD Hyundai Vietnam Shipbuilding, and two 90,000 cbm VLGCs at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (South Korea).
Beyond newbuilding projects, Union Maritime is also actively engaged in the sale and purchase of second-hand vessels; in 2026, the company has acquired two vessels and sold five.