Goldenport Shipmanagement has doubled its ultramax newbuilding programme at China's Nantong Xiangyu Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, adding two 63,500 dwt bulkers scheduled for delivery in 2029, according to Splash247.
Broker database entries cited by Splash247 show the John Dragnis-led company behind two fresh 63,500 dwt hulls at the Chinese yard. The new pair follows two vessels ordered in June at a reported price of around $35m each. Pricing for the latest units has not surfaced, but Splash247 noted that a repeat of the earlier level would value the four-ship programme at about $140m.
The move marks a deeper return to dry bulk newbuildings for Goldenport, which had focused more recently on secondhand acquisitions and investments in other shipping segments.
Splash247 reported that Goldenport is a repeat customer of the Nantong yard: it booked five 63,500 dwt ultramaxes at Xiangyu in 2022, becoming the yard's first Greek customer. Three of those vessels were delivered in 2023 and the remaining two followed in 2024.
Ultramax orderbook at a glance
| Order batch | Quantity | Vessel size | Reported price | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June ultramax pair | 2 | 63,500 dwt | ~$35m each | Not stated |
| Fresh 2029 hulls | 2 | 63,500 dwt | Pricing not surfaced | 2029 |
| 2022 batch at Xiangyu | 5 | 63,500 dwt | Not stated | 3 in 2023, 2 in 2024 |
Feeder containership programme expands in parallel
Separately this year, Goldenport has added three 1,800 teu feeder containerships at China Merchants' revived Qingshan Shipyard, with deliveries running through 2027 and 2028, according to Splash247. The feeder programme is estimated to be worth between $93m and $99m. The addition gives the company a multi-year pipeline across both dry bulk and container segments.
Fleet scale and operator outlook
Goldenport currently lists 31 vessels under management, comprising 25 bulk carriers and six containerships, the report said. The owner also doubled its capesize exposure last year with the acquisition of the 2012-built, 176,357 dwt Despotiko.
For dry bulk charterers and freight forwarders, the two fresh ultramax hulls add 127,000 dwt of combined deadweight in the 2029 delivery window, alongside the two-ship June pair. That represents additional ultramax tonnage entering the dry bulk market through the Nantong yard, per Splash247. For feeder operators, the three 1,800 teu vessels arriving through 2027-2028 add short-sea container capacity; the source did not specify which trade lanes the new ships will enter. Freight forwarders and chartering desks should factor the 2029 delivery window into forward dry bulk coverage, while shippers relying on feeder services can expect the additional 1,800 teu capacity to phase in between 2027 and 2028, based on the delivery schedule in the Splash247 report.
Watch list
- Pricing for the latest two ultramax hulls has not surfaced; a repeat of the earlier ~$35m level would value the four-ship programme at about $140m, per Splash247.
- The two fresh ultramax hulls are scheduled for delivery in 2029.
- Three feeder containerships from Qingshan Shipyard have deliveries running through 2027 and 2028, with the programme estimated at $93m-$99m.
- Goldenport's managed fleet stands at 31 vessels — 25 bulk carriers and six containerships — after it added the 2012-built, 176,357 dwt Despotiko last year.
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