Singapore-listed Uni-Asia Group has ordered a second 40,000 dwt handysize bulk carrier to be built by Imabari Shipbuilding in Japan, doubling its handysize newbuilding programme, according to Splash247.
Second handysize bulker on order
The new vessel was ordered through Nihon Shipyard and an affiliate, with delivery scheduled between the fourth quarter of 2029 and the first half of 2030, Splash247 reported. No price has been disclosed. Uni-Asia said the ship will feature a fuel-efficient engine and a dual-fuel-ready design that allows a future retrofit.
Return to newbuilding
This order follows Uni-Asia's return to the newbuilding market in March after more than a decade away. That earlier deal also covered a 40,000 dwt handysize bulker contracted through Nihon Shipyard, with Imabari Shipbuilding constructing the vessel at its Shimanami yard for delivery in the second half of 2028. According to Splash247, Uni-Asia's previous newbuilding order had been placed in 2015, for the bulker Sider Montediprocida, which joined the fleet in 2020.
Two-vessel comparison
The two Japanese-built handysize orders share the same vessel size and shipyard group but differ in delivery timing and contract structure:
| Specification | First newbuild | Second newbuild |
|---|---|---|
| Vessel size | 40,000 dwt handysize | 40,000 dwt handysize |
| Contracting entity | Nihon Shipyard | Nihon Shipyard and affiliate |
| Shipyard | Imabari Shipbuilding (Shimanami yard) | Imabari Shipbuilding |
| Delivery window | Second half of 2028 | Q4 2029 - H1 2030 |
| Price | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Engine design | Not stated | Fuel-efficient, dual-fuel-ready |
The second 40,000 dwt bulker will be delivered from Imabari Shipbuilding between the fourth quarter of 2029 and the first half of 2030, with a dual-fuel-ready design allowing future retrofit.
Fleet renewal strategy and implications
Uni-Asia has been renewing its fleet through a mix of secondhand acquisitions and disposals of older vessels, according to Splash247. The two newbuilds add a combined 80,000 dwt of new handysize tonnage to that programme, with delivery windows spread from the second half of 2028 to mid-2030. For shippers, freight forwarders and charterers tracking dry bulk capacity, the staggered delivery schedule means Uni-Asia's newbuilding capacity will enter the market in two distinct phases: the first vessel arriving in the second half of 2028, and the second arriving between the fourth quarter of 2029 and mid-2030. Because the order and delivery dates sit several years apart, near-term availability in the handysize segment will continue to be driven by Uni-Asia's secondhand purchases and disposals of older vessels, which the company has been conducting as part of its ongoing fleet renewal strategy, the outlet reported.
Watch list
- Delivery schedule of the first newbuild (second half of 2028) and the second newbuild (Q4 2029 - H1 2030)
- Any future disclosure of the contract price for the second vessel
- Further newbuilding orders, secondhand acquisitions, or vessel disposals by Uni-Asia as it continues its renewal programme
