On August 31, Suisse-Atlantique, a Swiss dry bulk shipowner controlled by the Andre family, announced that it had signed a contract with Jiangmen Nanyang Ship Engineering for the construction of two 40,500 DWT bulk carriers.
With this latest order, Suisse-Atlantique has commissioned a total of seven bulk carriers across two vessel types from Jiangmen Nanyang Ship Engineering, with deliveries scheduled between the third quarter of 2028 and the first quarter of 2029. This newbuilding program encompasses both vessels for Suisse-Atlantique’s own fleet and those ordered in partnership with external investors. Suisse-Atlantique is responsible for supervising the construction of all seven vessels and will assume full technical management duties following their delivery.
It is understood that the initial collaboration between Suisse-Atlantique and Jiangmen Nanyang Ship Engineering was announced earlier in 2026. At that time, the two parties signed a contract for the construction of five Ultramax bulk carriers, with a unit price of approximately $33.5 million and a total contract value of around $167.5 million.
Notably, the bulk carrier order secured by Jiangmen Nanyang Ship Engineering earlier this year marked the first time Suisse-Atlantique had turned to a Chinese shipyard for newbuilds; previously, the shipowner had primarily placed orders with shipyards in Japan and Vietnam.
Founded in 1941, Suisse-Atlantique currently operates a fleet of approximately 10 bulk carriers. This investment in newbuilds reflects the owner’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a modern, efficient, and competitive fleet, while enhancing its ability to serve clients and meet evolving market demands.
Jiangmen Nanyang Ship Engineering is a shipyard with over 20 years of shipbuilding experience. Located on the banks of Yinzhou Lake in the Xinhui District of Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province, the yard operates across two sites covering an area of 915 mu (approximately 61 hectares), with a total workshop area of 140,000 square meters. It is capable of constructing vessels of up to 100,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT) and has an annual production capacity of 1.6 million DWT; currently specializing in Handysize bulk carriers, the yard has delivered over 150 vessels to date.
Including this latest order, the shipbuilder has publicly announced contracts for approximately 40 vessels this year—all within the bulk carrier sector—ranging from 40,500 DWT to 64,500 DWT, with delivery schedules extending through 2030.