Xingang yard to build supramax trio

Hong Kong-based Hong Da International has ordered three supramax bulkers from Tianjin Xingang Shipbuilding Heavy Industry for delivery from September 2011. The newbuildings will be the biggest vessels the 70-year-old, state-owned yard has built and will be constructed at the shipbuilder’s new facilities. Tianjin Xingang’s existing facility, some 10 kilometres from the new site, can only build ships up to 28m wide and below 40,000 dwt because of slipway restrictions. Nor can it construct vessels more than 28 metres wide. The new facility is almost five times the size of the current site, equipped with two dry docks of 510m by 110 m that can easily handle ships of up to 400,000 dwt.