Hosco orders three bulkers

Hebei Ocean Shipping (Hosco), the third largest shipping company by tonnage in China, has ordered three 57,000 dwt bulk carriers from Cosco Zhoushan Shipyard, boosting its spending on vessel purchases to $1.4bn this year. The three supramaxes are due to be delivered in the second half of 2009.

Hosco made a massive $1.1bn investment in 16 new capesize bulk carriers last month. The vessels will be built by China Shipbuilding Industry Corp (CSIC) and delivered between 2009 and 2011.