On October 17, Fujian Shipbuilding Industry Group Corporation (Fujian Shipbuilding) signed shipbuilding contracts for 18+2 new vessels across two types—multi-purpose vessels and offshore support vessels—along with several equipment procurement contracts.
16 multi-purpose grain carriers of 87,000 deadweight tons each
Fujian Shipbuilding has signed newbuilding contracts with COSCO Shipping Bulk for a total of 16 87,000 DWT multi-purpose grain carriers, comprising 11 vessels in cooperation with ICBC Financial Leasing (ICBC Leasing), 3 vessels with Zhejiang Zheyin Financial Leasing (Zheyin Leasing), and 2 vessels with Yongying Financial Leasing (Yongying Leasing).
This batch of new vessels marks a renewed collaboration between Fujian Shipbuilding and COSCO Shipping Bulk in the multipurpose ship segment, following their previous partnership a year ago.
On June 18, 2025, Fujian Shipbuilding, in conjunction with CITIC Financial Leasing (CITIC Leasing), signed a contract with COSCO Shipping Bulk for the construction of 15+15 multi-purpose grain carriers, each with a capacity of 80,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT). The vessels will be built by Mawei Shipbuilding and Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry—both subsidiaries of Fujian Shipbuilding—at a cost of approximately 360 million yuan per ship. Delivery is scheduled to take place between 2027 and 2028.
With the addition of these 16 new vessels, COSCO SHIPPING Bulk now holds orders for over 30 multi-purpose grain carriers with Fujian Shipbuilding. Once delivered, this fleet will serve as a key initiative to optimize the company’s vessel structure, build a world-class maritime fleet, and support the “domestic construction of domestic vessels” strategy. Furthermore, it will help accelerate the expansion of high-quality grain-carrying capacity, bolster the global competitiveness of COSCO SHIPPING Bulk’s fleet, and strengthen the nation’s ability to ensure the secure transport of essential commodities.
2+2 platform supply vessels
Regarding new shipbuilding projects, Fujian Shipbuilding has signed a contract with the British shipping company Union Maritime Limited for the construction of two 84-meter platform supply vessels (PSVs), with an option for two additional units. This order marks the British shipowner’s first foray into the offshore market and reflects its confidence in Fujian Shipbuilding’s capabilities in constructing offshore vessels.
This order for offshore vessels is not the first collaboration between Union Maritime and Fujian Shipbuilding. According to the shipowner’s fleet data, updated on its official website on September 23, Mawei Shipbuilding—a subsidiary of Fujian Shipbuilding—is currently constructing eight 113,600 DWT product tankers for the company, with deliveries scheduled between 2027 and 2029.
The orders for these product tankers were announced in 2024 and 2026. Each vessel measures approximately 249.9 meters in length and 44 meters in breadth, with a deadweight capacity of about 113,600 tonnes. Designed to meet NOx Tier III emission standards, the vessels are energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and highly versatile, primarily intended for the transport of crude oil and petroleum products.
Union Maritime is a UK-based shipowner and operator with a diverse fleet that includes vessels for transporting crude oil, natural gas, clean petroleum products, and dry bulk commodities.
As of September 23, Union Maritime’s fleet totaled 185 vessels, comprising 85 tankers, 15 dry bulk carriers, 6 offshore vessels, and 79 newbuilds.