The Norwegian bulker owner has turned to Zhejiang OuHuaShipbuilding Co for two combination carriers to beef up its pacific-based CABUfleet.
Though Klaveness did not place a figure on the deal, market sources tell TradeWinds the company is likely to have agreed a fee of between $35m and $40m per vessel.
Zhejiang OuHua will deliver the 80,500-dwt pair in themiddle of 2016, Klaveness announced today adding that the deal includes optionsfor additional vessels.
The company has also declared options at Jiangsu YangzijiangShipbuilding for two more 82,000-dwt bulkers, taking its firm orders at the yard tosix vessels.
All six are underpinned by the partnership Klaveness signed withhedge fund Tufton Oceanic in November after it shelved plans for an Oslo IPOdue to lukewarm investor interest.
Options are in place that could potentially double the kamsarmaxorder to 12 units.
Klaveness put no figure on the latest contract but CEO Lasse Kristoffersenpreviously told TradeWinds that it paid “well below” the $28m per ship fee thatmarket sources had placed on the original two-ship deal in September.
Zhejiang OuHua is currently building34 vessels in addition to the combination carriers, including 13 containerships, six multipurpose ships, eight openhatch vessels and four bulk carriers.
The Klaveness contract will easily be the biggest vessels onorder at the yard though it has previously built seven bulkers of that size.
