Owners shift towards bigger bulkers

摘要

Larger vessel classes are increasingly in voguein many shipping segments, from container shipping to crude tankers to liquefied petroleum gas carriers. Newbuilding statistics confirm the same is true in dry bulk shipping.Recent ordering activity shows a greater interest in VLOCs such as Newcastlemaxes and Valemaxes, which were built to carry iron ore to Asia from Australia and Brazil, respectively. There were 36 VLOC orders placed last year, according to IHS Markit M&T data, the second highest number ever, topped only by the 37 VLOC orders placed in 2007.