On November 29, Fujian Guohang Ocean Shipping (Group) Co., LTD (“Guohang Ocean Shipping”) made an announcement that it had entered into force two more 89,000 dwt methanol dual-fuel bulk carriers at Wuhu Shipyard.
On December 28, 2023, Guohang Ocean Shipping signed a contract with Wuhu Shipyard for the construction of 4+6 89,000 dwt methanol dual-fuel bulk carriers. The contract price for each vessel is US$36.48 million and the delivery dates for the four vessels are September 30, 2025, December 30, 2025, March 30, 2026 and June 30, 2026, respectively.
The announcement disclosed that on February 1, 2024, Guodian Shipping (Hong Kong) Company Limited, a subsidiary of Guohang Ocean Shipping, entered into a supplemental agreement with Wuhu Shipyard. Pursuant to the Supplemental Agreement, Guodian Shipping (Hong Kong) has the right to announce to Wuhu Shipyard whether the subsequent 6 Selection Vessels will take effect and be constructed within an agreed period of time. The number of option vessels to be constructed is 2 + 2 + 2 (hull numbers: W23145, W23146, W23147, W23148, W23149, W231410 respectively).
Subsequently, Guodian Shipping (Hong Kong) issued two notices of commencement to Wuhu Shipyard on May 27, 2024 and August 28, 2024 for four option vessels, bringing the total number of new vessels in the batch to eight.
On November 28, 2024, Guodian Shipping (Hong Kong) issued another notice to Wuhu Shipyard for the commencement and construction of two option vessels with hull numbers W23149 and W231410. Up to this point, all six option vessels have been validated and the total number of 89,000 DWT Methanol Dual Fuel Bulk Carriers signed by Guohang Ocean Shipping this time at Wuhu Shipyard reaches 10 vessels.
According to the announcement made by Guohang Ocean Shipping on January 2, 2024, the cost of a single vessel of this type is US$36.48 million, with the total cost of 10 vessels amounting to US$364.8 million, which is approximately RMB 2.64 billion at the current exchange rate.
According to previous announcements, the vessel is equipped with a biodiesel-ready methanol dual-fuel power system and optimized methanol fuel tank capacity. Meanwhile, the vessel also reduces the empty vessel weight and improves the vessel’s energy efficiency level through measures such as line optimization, lightweight design, and integrated design of propeller and energy-saving devices; in addition, it is equipped with high-level intelligence system to improve the safety and reliability of the vessel, enhance the efficiency of vessel operation and management, and reduce the management cost.