Yangzijiang Maritime orders 24 ships with options on 16 more
Bulkers, product, chemical and crude tankers take the portfolio to 98 vessels including options
Yangzijiang Maritime Development Ltd has ordered 24 newbuildings from several Chinese shipyards and secured options on a further 16, taking its newbuilding portfolio to 98 vessels including options.
That total breaks down into seven ships already delivered, 75 firm newbuildings and the 16 optional vessels. The firm orders announced now cover five ship types: six 64,500 dwt bulk carriers for 2029 and 2030; six 49,800 dwt product and chemical tankers due between 2028 and 2030; four 28,000 dwt and four 29,000 dwt stainless steel chemical tankers for 2028 and 2029; and four 319,000 dwt crude oil tankers scheduled for 2029 and 2030.
The company has not identified the individual yards or disclosed the contract values, and has not broken the 16 options down by vessel type. The newbuildings will be financed through a combination of equity co-investment and debt, and are to be built to International Association of Classification Societies standards with eco-related class notations.
"These newbuilds will further expand, strengthen and modernise our fleet composition," said Ren Yuanlin, executive chairman and chief executive.
The detail that says most about the business model sits further down the programme: twelve of the 75 firm newbuildings have already been resold, and one of those has been handed over to its buyer under a sale contract. The company says it plans to invest alongside co-investment partners while keeping the ability to lease or resell vessels as opportunities emerge.
That is asset investment rather than fleet building. A conventional owner contracts tonnage to trade it; this portfolio is contracted to be owned, chartered out or sold on, with the newbuilding slot itself treated as the tradable item. In a market where delivery positions at Chinese yards are quoted into 2030, an early slot is worth something to an owner who cannot get one, and the spread between what the slot cost and what it fetches is part of the return.
Yangzijiang Maritime Development was incorporated in Singapore in April 2025. Its activities cover maritime asset investment, ship financing and related maritime services.
This story is part of the Maritime Briefing of 24 September 2026.
