China Dalian strengthens fleet

China Dalian International Corp has ordered three 57,000 dwt supramaxes at a total cost of $101m from an east China shipyard. The vessels, which will be operated through Singapore subsidiary Da Sin Shipping, will more than double the size of the company?s bulker fleet by 2009. The newbuildings will be delivered between August and December next year and increase total tonnage from 106,000 dwt to 277,000 dwt.

Company spokesman Han Xiuji declined to disclose details of the shipyard except to say it was a Sino-foreign joint venture in Jiangsu province. Insiders believe it could be Nantong KHI Cosco Ship Engineering.