Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has beefed up its orderbook with a new deal for newcastlemax bulk carriers in China.
Newbuilding brokers say the Japanese shipping giant has contracted four 210,000 dwt units at leading newcastlemax builder CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding for delivery in 2027 and 2028.
MOL had ordered three bulkers of similar tonnage at Qingdao Beihai late last year for $83m each and delivery in 2026 and 2027.
Unlike these ships, which will be powered by LNG dual-fuel engines, the latest series will be fitted with ammonia dual-fuel units and cost about $10m more.
MOL has been looking into ammonia-fuelled ships for a while, including large bulkers, which in early 2023 resulted in approval in principle from ClassNK for a newcastlemax vessel design (pictured), developed in partnership with trading house Mitsui & Co and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding.
Including the latest order, the Tokyo-headquartered company has 14 dual-fuel newcastlemax newbuilding projects spread across Qingdao Beihai and domestic shipyards Nihon and Imabai.
Other owners, including compatriot Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line), Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping and Berge Bulk, as well as Belgium’s Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB), have also signed up for newcastlemax newbuilds with either dual-fuel or ammonia-ready notation.