STX completes first newbuilding at Dalian yard

STX Offshore and Shipbuilding of South Korea completed two 58,000 dwt handymaxes at its Chinese yard in Dalian on April 17, representing the first newbuildings constructed at the new yard. The newbuildings just completed are the STX Begonia and the STX Crocus, both for its group shipping company STX Pan Ocean. The Dalian yard cut steel for the ships in April 2008 and completed them in about one year. On the same day COSCO Shipyard Group completed its first export ship. It delivered a 57,000-dwt bulker, the Apj Kais completed at its Guangdong yard, on April 17 to its owner Apeejay Shipping of India. The vessel represents the yard's first delivery to a foreign shipowner.