GSI wins bitumen pair

Chinese state-owned shipbuilder Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI), part of CSSC, has ended its order drought by winning orders for two specialized bitumen carriers. The newbuilding contracts are understood to involve a pair of 10,000 DWT vessels for delivery in 2012.

No price has been disclosed but shipbrokers suggest it could be over $20m each. Local sources say Sweden’s Gotland Reederi is behind the orders but a Gotland official says that, although it is discussing various projects with shipyards, it has not ordered the ships.