To expand its heavy-lift cargo fleet, COSCO Shipping will invest 2.624 billion yuan (approximately $387.8 million) in the construction of eight multipurpose heavy-lift vessels at the Chengxi Shipyard.
According to sea-news.az citing Seanews.az, that the company will place the order through its wholly owned subsidiary COSCO Shipping (Hong Kong) or related companies.
The delivery of the vessels will be carried out in stages from April 2029 to June 2030.
With a deadweight tonnage capacity of 60,000, the vessels are being built to meet the growing demand in the offshore wind energy sector, as well as the increasing export volume of industrial equipment manufactured in China.
COSCO Shipping Specialised Carriers stated that the new vessels will further strengthen the company’s position in the market for transporting wind turbines and project cargoes.
This order follows the company’s previous order at the same shipyard for the construction of four 40,000-dwt multipurpose heavy-lift vessels with a total value of approximately $213 million. Those vessels are scheduled for delivery from June 2028 to February 2029.
In addition, last year COSCO Shipping Specialised Carriers signed a lease agreement worth $310 million for six 60,000-dwt heavy-lift vessels to be built at the same shipyard.
The company will operate these vessels from Bank of Communications Financial Leasing on a bareboat charter basis for approximately 16 years.
Currently, the fleet of COSCO Shipping Specialised Carriers includes more than 150 vessels, including over 60 multipurpose (MPP) and heavy-lift cargo vessels.
