New Jiangzhou Shipbuilding Wins First Foreign Order

New Jiangzhou Shipbuilding, previously known as Jiangzhou Union Shipbuilding and recently restarted, has secured its first international order since its revival last year.

This comeback into the European chemical tanker sector is marked by a contract with Mercurius Shipping, a Dutch company specializing in inland shipping, for the construction of four chemical tankers made of duplex stainless steel.

The new agreement involves the construction of vessels each measuring 135 meters in length, with Lloyd’s Register providing classification services. This order contributes to the yard's portfolio, which includes six chemical tankers ordered by local shipowners in the previous year, although New Jiangzhou did not share more details about this latest transaction.

Before halting its operations in 2018 due to financial challenges, the yard, then under its former name, had completed fifteen 16,500 dwt chemical tankers for German firms Bernhard Schulte and Sloman Neptun. Its operations were subsequently taken over by Yangzijiang Shipbuilding.

In March 2023, the shipyard was relaunched as New Jiangzhou Shipbuilding, with support from Yangzijiang Shipbuilding's subsidiary, Jiangsu Yangchuan Investment Development, and Qinshi Group, the major shareholder of Bestway Marine & Energy Technology. The yard announced its first local orders in December, including a deal with Alita (Shanghai) International Shipping for up to four 13,800 dwt chemical tankers, set to be delivered starting in 2025.