Winning International Group has moved to expand its West Africa to China seaborne trade with a new order for six very large ore carriers (VLOCs) in a deal worth nearly US$700 million.
Following an order for two VLOCs at CSSC yard Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding in September 2023, Winning has booked the newbuildings at Hengli Heavy Industry, with sources suggesting deliveries for the 2H27 and an estimated price tag of around US$116 million per vessel.
The 325 000 DWT newbuilds, classed by the China Classification Society and DNV, will be nearly 330 m long and methanol-ready with 12 000 m3 fuel storage tanks. The newbuilds have been estimated to see a 50% reduction in energy consumption per tonne-mile.
Winning owns and operates one of the largest bulk carrier fleets in Singapore, with almost 100 vessels, of which 51 are owned. The company is currently one of the world’s top bauxite carriers and is mainly engaged in Guinea, with an annual shipment of more than 50 million tonnes.
