Aruna Shipping orders up to ten ultramax bulk carriers in China
The Turkish owner's newbuilding programme at a Zhoushan yard could more than double the size of its owned fleet.
Turkey's Aruna Shipping has signed for up to ten ultramax bulk carriers at Yangzhou Guoyu Shipbuilding's new Zhoushan operation, a newbuilding programme that could more than double the size of its owned fleet. The order underscores the continued appetite among mid-sized dry bulk owners for fresh tonnage despite a volatile freight market.
The deal comprises six firm vessels of 64,500 deadweight tonnes each, with options covering a further four ships. If all options are exercised, the order would bring Aruna's total newbuild commitment to ten ultramax bulk carriers, a substantial expansion for an owner of its size.
Shipbuilding databases indicate the contract was signed in April, ahead of its public disclosure, a pattern common in the newbuilding market where deals are often finalised well before terms become widely known. Yangzhou Guoyu's Zhoushan operation represents a newer yard capacity addition within China's shipbuilding sector, which continues to compete aggressively for dry bulk newbuilding orders.
Ultramax bulk carriers, typically in the 60,000 to 65,000 deadweight tonne range, remain a popular choice among owners seeking flexible vessels able to call at a wide range of ports while carrying diverse bulk cargoes including grain, coal and minerals. Continued ordering activity in this segment reflects owners' efforts to renew fleets with more fuel-efficient designs ahead of tightening environmental regulations.
For Aruna, the scale of the commitment marks a significant step up in fleet ambition, betting on sustained demand for modern ultramax tonnage even as the broader dry bulk market continues to navigate uncertain freight rates and shifting global trade patterns. Delivery timing for the vessels has not been disclosed.
