Turkish shipping group EOS is expanding its fleet with four dry bulk newbuilds in China while simultaneously placing a long-idle containership into short-sea service, according to Splash247. The orders and delivery add capacity on both deep-sea and regional feeder lanes, though the bulk carriers will not arrive until late this decade.
Newbuild programme at Jiangsu Dajin
EOS Group has emerged in the newbuilding market with a four-ship dry bulk order at Jiangsu Dajin Heavy Industry in China, Splash247 reported. The contracts cover two 40,400 dwt handysize bulkers and two 64,500 dwt ultramaxes, according to a filing by Dajin's parent, Bestway Marine & Energy Technology. No price has been disclosed. Delivery schedules are staggered:
| Vessel type | Dwt | Quantity | Delivery date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handysize bulker | 40,400 | 2 | August 2028 / March 2029 |
| Ultramax bulker | 64,500 | 2 | February 2030 / May 2030 |
The order builds on a previous transaction: Splash247 noted that Armador Ship Management, part of EOS Group, was tied in 2022 to an order for two similar handysize bulkers at Dajin, with those ships delivered last year.
Revived containership enters service
Earlier this month, EOS made headlines with the delivery of the 917 TEU Behram Box, a containership left unfinished after the 2008 financial crisis, Splash247 reported. The vessel was originally ordered around 20 years ago at Turkey's Um Shipyard and spent more than a decade incomplete before being revived last year. It was later moved from Gölcük to Tuzla for completion, with ownership believed to rest with EOS Group and the finishing work thought to have been carried out by Dentaş Shipyard.
The Behram Box has since entered service with Shipping Solutions, DP World's feeder unit formerly known as Unifeeder, on a Turkey-Bulgaria shuttle linking Ambarli with Burgas and Varna. This route connects Istanbul's main container port with Black Sea Bulgarian ports, supporting regional trade flows.
Group background and implications
EOS Group's maritime roots date back to 1917, according to Splash247. The Turkish group's shipping interests include Armador Ship Management, which operates across chemical, mineral, container and dry cargo transportation, as well as Hamburg Shipping Services and the Dentaş and Çındemir shipyards in Tuzla. The new bulk carriers will strengthen EOS's dry bulk segment, though with deliveries starting in 2028, near-term capacity impact is minimal. Meanwhile, the Behram Box adds feeder capacity on a key short-sea lane connecting Turkey's Marmara region to the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. For shippers and freight forwarders, this incremental tonnage may offer additional options on the Ambarli-Burgas-Varna corridor, though the vessel is a single unit. The newbuilding order signals EOS's long-term confidence in dry bulk demand, particularly for handysize and ultramax tonnage, which serve agriculture, minerals, and minor bulk trades.
Watch list
- Delivery of the two handysize bulkers in August 2028 and March 2029, and two ultramaxes in February and May 2030.
- Potential additional newbuilding orders by EOS or other Turkish owners at Chinese yards.
- Performance and possible expansion of the Turkey-Bulgaria shuttle service operated by Shipping Solutions.
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