Croatian operator orders two Ultramax bulkers from China

The contract includes an option for a third vessel, the Croatian company said in a statement. Atlantska Plovdiba has reserved the right to order the third bulk carrier over a period of three months. The amount of the latest deal was not disclosed by the shipping company.

The contract partly replaces an earlier deal signed by the two companies. Under the previous contract, the Chinese shipyard was to build two 38,000dwt Handysize bulk carriers for Atlantska Plovdiba which included an option for a further two vessels. However, the shipping company has decided to resign from the option for two Handysize ships in favour of two larger Ultramax bulk carriers to further increase the cargo capacity of its fleet.

Headquartered in Dubrovnik, on Croatia’s Adriatic Sea shore, Atlantska Plovdiba was set up in 1955. The shipping company operates a fleet consisting of 15 bulk carriers and two heavy lift ships. The vessels have a capacity ranging from 31,598dwt to 79,898dwt, according to data released by Atlantska Plovdiba.

Based in Wuhan, China, Qingshan is part of the country’s state-owned Changjiang National Shipping Group.