TWO yards in Shandong have each signed an order for six very large ore carriers during Marinetech China 2025.

Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding clinched a contract with Singapore-based Winning International on Tuesday for the constructions of six 325,000 dwt VLOCs. Price and delivery have not been disclosed yet, but market sources expect all vessels to be handed over by 2028.

This is Winning’s second VLOC deal with Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding. In September 2023, the company ordered two 325,000 dwt VLOCs at the same yard. Currently, Winning has 16 325,000 dwt Winningmax-class VLOCs under construction at Chinese yards, eight at Beihai Shipbuilding and the other eight at Hengli Heavy Industries.

The Winningmax-class VLOCs, co-developed by Winning and the Shanghai Ship Research and Design Institute, are reported to use nearly 50% less fuel per tonne-mile than conventional capesize vessels. The vessels are specified as methanol-ready and will be outfitted with 12,000 cu m methanol fuel tanks.

Meanwhile, another Shandong-based yard, China Merchants Industry Qingdao Shipyard secured an order for six 342,000 dwt VLOCs from Hamburg-based shipowner and operator Neu Seeschiffahrt on Wednesday.

This is the first order since CMI, part of state-owned China Merchants Group, finalised its acquisition of Qingdao Yangfan in April 2025.

This also marks the first fleet-renewal initiative for Neu Seeschiffahrt in almost 20 years. The company manages a fleet of six VLOCs, two newcastlemax bulk carriers and one capesize bulk carrier, according to data from its website.

The new VLOCs will be built to a methanol-ready specification. Market sources indicate delivery is scheduled between 2029 and 2031, with prices estimated at $115m–$116m per vessel.

Industry sources said both orders were expected to be deployed on iron ore shipments for the Simandou project once delivered.