Japan's Santoku Senpaku rebuilds fleet with newcastlemax and ultramax newbuildings

Japan’s privately-owned Santoku Shipping Co has splashed out on a raft of newcastlemax and ultramax bulker newbuildings to grow its fleet.

Industry sources said the company — also known as Santoku Senpaku — acquired two newcastlemaxes from a Chinese shipyard, while a previously unreported deal for half-a-dozen ultramax units with a Sino-Japanese shipyard has also emerged.

Santoku is said to have acquired two 210,000-dwt newcastlemaxes from state-owned Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) for $52m apiece to be delivered in June and September this year.