Meiji Shipping announces three newbuild contracts

Tokyo: Meiji Shipping announced on January 25 that it has ordered one 50,000-dwt (MR-type) product carrier from Onomichi Dockyard and two 56,000-dwt handymax bulkers from Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding (MES). The PC is due for delivery in the first half of fiscal 2011, with the two bulkers deliverable in the latter half of fiscal 2011 and the first half of fiscal 2012, respectively. All the three vessels are to be owned by Meiji's consolidated affiliates based outside Japan.

On Meiji's order backlog vessels include a 176,700-dwt Capesize bulker (due for completion at MES in the latter half of fiscal 2011), a 55,500-dwt Handymax bulker (at MES in the first half of fiscal 2011), a 110,000-dwt Aframax tanker (at MES in the latter half of fiscal 2008) and a 310,000-dwt VLCC (at MES in the first half of fiscal 2009).  [29/01/08]