Clipper orders a dozen handies

Tsuji Heavy Industries of Japan and Clipper Group of Bahamas have signed a contract for the construction of another 12 newbuildings of the 30,000 dwt ‘Trader’ type, being double-hull, handysize bulk carriers. This order is in addition to the first 12 newbuildings ordered by Clipper Group at Tsuji Heavy Industries in July this year.

The 24 newbuildings will be delivered in the period between May 2008 and December 2010 and will all be built at Tsuji Heavy Industries’ facilities in Jiangsu, China. Clipper Group has earlier placed newbuilding contracts for the ‘Trader’ type at other shipyards and will receive a total of 34 newbuildings of this particular concept design, which will all operate in a commercial pool managed by Clipper Group.

Clipper Group has also expanded its activities within the VLCC segment by securing 2 more newbuildings from Jiangnan Shipyard in China. These newbuildings contracts have been acquired from Frontline Ltd. and the deal follows a similar transaction for 2 sister newbuildings, entered into in July this year.

The VLCC newbuildings are due for delivery in the period between October 2009 and March 2011. The 300,000 dwt VLCCs have a length of 330 m and carry 2 million barrels of oil.