Egypt’s National Navigation Company (NNC) will expand its fleet with two new 82,000 dwt Kamsarmax bulk carriers at a Chinese shipyard.
NNC has reportedly signed a contract with Jiangsu Hantong Ship Heavy Industry Co., Ltd (HT) for the construction of two 82,000 dwt Kamsarmax bulk carriers, which are expected to be delivered in 2026.
The move is part of Egypt’s plan to renew more than 40 percent of the country’s merchant fleet within three years which will significantly advance Egypt’s strategic maritime goals, said Kamel Al-Wazir, Egypt’s Minister of Transportation, who was present at the signing ceremony to sign the newbuildings.
Established in 1981, NNC has a fleet of 14 Egyptian-flagged vessels, including 13 bulk carriers and one 3,000 TEU container ship. The company plans to work on the rejuvenation of its fleet in the coming years, increasing the size of its subsidiary’s fleet to more than 30 vessels by 2030, to increase its capacity to transport strategic goods, including grains and petroleum products.
This is the second order HT has made public this month. Not long ago, Croatian bulk carrier owner and operator Atlantska Plovidba announced that it had returned to HT to place an additional order for a 63,500 dwt Ultramax bulk carrier. The single unit cost of $32.5 million and is expected to be delivered in 2027.