Idan Ofer’s Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has increased the number of its of ammonia dual-fuelled newcastlemax bulkers from six to ten.
The Singapore-based shipowner has firmed up orders for four additional 210 000 DWT units at CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding, taking its order total at the shipyard up to ten.
The order followed six ships booked in 2023 with the aim to deliver them between 2026 and 2027, according to shipbuilding databases, which show a diversified newbuilding lineup of more than 70 ships on EPS’ books.
EPS has been estimated to have paid around US$80 million per ship which equated to US$800 million for the ten ships overall.
Although methanol was the top fuel of choice for newbuild projects around the globe in 2023, with about 138 ships on record, 2023 was also a breakout year for ammonia, with 11 orders for vessels run on ammonia fuel fuel, according to DNV.
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