Bulk Carriers News

Japan’s ClassNK has issued an approval in principle (AiP) for a bulk carrier concept developed by Oshima Shipbuilding that is designed to be ready for multiple alternative fuels, including ammonia, methanol and liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS).The approval confirms the technical feasibility of the vessel from a regulatory and safety perspective and reflects growing industry efforts to future-proof newbuilds amid tightening emissions rules.The concept design was reviewed in line with ClassNK’s updated Guidelines for Ships Using Alternative Fuels…

According to Veson Nautical’s 2025 End-of-Year Market Report, a report which breaks down prevailing trends in all major oceangoing shipping sectors globally, these are the prevailing trends shipowners should watch in 2026.1. Routing Normalization vs. Geopolitical RealityMuch of 2025’s earnings strength—especially in containers, crude tankers and dry bulk—was driven by longer voyages around the Cape of Good Hope. Any sustained return to Suez transits in 2026 would compress ton-mile demand quickly. Owners should plan for volatility rather than assume a clean reversion to pre-Red Sea norms.2.

After several years of volatility, 2025 became the year the global shipping markets began to reset. Not collapse—but recalibrate.According to Veson Nautical’s 2025 End-of-Year Market Report, the past year was defined by persistent geopolitical disruption, tightening environmental regulation and growing uncertainty over future fuel pathways. Red Sea instability continued to distort global trade flows, FuelEU Maritime and EU ETS added cost and complexity, and owners across nearly every sector adopted a more cautious stance toward fleet expansion.As the industry enters 2026…

Amon Maritime was awarded investment grants of NOK 298 million ($29m) from Enova to support the construction of three new ammonia-fueled bulk carriers.The vessels, each in the Kamsarmax segment with a capacity of approximately 80,000–85,000 DWT, are designed to combine high energy efficiency with carbon free fuel. Fully aligned with the requirements of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and the FuelEU Maritime regulation, they are designed for the future, delivering strong…

Oslo-based dry bulk operator Western Bulk has re-entered ship ownership after acquiring a minority stake in a Kamsarmax vessel alongside a group of Norwegian partners, the company said on Tuesday.Western Bulk, together with A/S J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, NRP Asset Management-managed Premium Maritime Fund 2024, and Pactum, has acquired the dry bulk carrier CSSC Shi Jia Zhuang, which will be renamed Western Egda.The 2020-built, eco-design Kamsarmax was constructed in China and has recently completed its five-year special survey.

Between January and November 2025, the capacity of bulker newbuilding contracting has fallen 54% y/y to 25m DWT, reaching its lowest level since 2020. Consequently, the dry bulk orderbook is now 4% smaller than a year ago, accounting for 11% of the dry bulk fleet.“Contracting has likely eased due to a cloudy market outlook,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analysis Manager at BIMCO.The number of ships contracted has seen an even steeper decline, down 61% y/y so far in 2025. Only 281 ships have been ordered, the lowest number since 2016.

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes decreased 19.1 percent from 2024 to 3.4 million tons in November. Shipments were below the month’s 5-year average by 20.3 percent.Year-to-date, the iron ore trade stands at 39.2 million tons, a decrease of 13.2 percent compared to the same point in 2024.Through November, iron ore loadings are 8.1 percent below their 5-year average.Since 1880, Lake Carriers’ has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargos annually that are the foundation of American industry…

International shipbroker IFCHOR-Galbraiths (IG) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Brazilian dry bulk shipbroker Aries Shipping. Founded in 2005, Aries Shipping is a Rio de Janeiro based firm led by Marcela Rosman and Bruna Moraes.This move follows IG’s launch of a Houston desk dedicated to the US Jones Act tanker market and forms part of a broader strategy to expand its global footprint by establishing very experienced local teams in high-growth regions. South America is a growing market for commodities trading…

One of Australia's biggest coal export ports will resume operations on Monday, the port operator said, after climate-change protesters disrupted shipping at the Port of Newcastle for a second day on Sunday.Climate activist group Rising Tide, which claimed responsibility for the latest protest, said hundreds of activists paddled kayaks into the shipping lane of Newcastle Harbour on Sunday morning, violating an exclusion zone.The port, 170 km (110 miles) north of New South Wales state capital Sydney…

Two cargo vessels were headed for grain port terminals near New Orleans on Monday to load with the first U.S. soybean shipments to China since May, according to a shipping schedule seen by Reuters.A third vessel was en route to a Texas Gulf Coast grain terminal to be loaded with China-bound U.S. sorghum in the coming days in what will be the first American shipment of the feed grain to China since mid-March, the shipping schedule showed.U.S. farmers and grain traders have been awaiting shipments to China to resume after Beijing shunned U.S.

Genco Shipping & Trading, the largest U.S. headquartered dry bulk shipowner focused on the global transportation of commodities, has agreed to acquire two 2020-built 208,000 dwt scrubber fitted Newcastlemax vessels for a total purchase price of $145.5 million.Genco expects to take delivery of the vessels during the first quarter of 2026 and intends to fund the acquisition with cash on hand and a drawdown from its revolving credit facility.John C. Wobensmith, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer…

Star Bulk Carriers reported a weaker third quarter amid softening dry bulk markets, lower charter rates and a smaller operating fleet, while continuing to reshape its fleet through vessel sales, refinancing and newbuilding acquisitions.The company posted net income of $18.5 million for Q3 2025, down sharply from $81.3 million in the same period last year. Voyage revenues also fell to $263.9 million, versus $344.3 million a year ago, reflecting reduced TCE rates and a drop in the number of vessels on the water.

After delivering its first full-scale seagoing project last week, Wattlab has been contracted to outfit the hatches of the BRF Froan with its onboard solar energy system.Owned by Norwegian shipping company Berge Rederi, the vessel will be the world’s largest battery-powered bulk carrier. BRF Froan is expected to be delivered in Q2 2026 and will transport marble from Brønnøy and Visnes to a production plant in Elnesvågen.The vessel is currently under construction and will sail to Norway next summer.

“Following US-China trade negotiations, China has committed to resume imports of US soya beans. The country has agreed to purchase 12m tonnes during the rest of 2025 and 25m tonnes per year during the next three years, similar to 2024 volumes. If these commitments are met, US soya bean shipments are expected to surge in the short term before stabilizing in the medium term,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analysis Manager at BIMCO.The agreement is expected to be positive for the dry bulk market and the US and Chinese economies.

St. Catharines, Ontario–based Algoma Central Corporation (TSX: ALC) reported a solid third quarter for 2025, marked by fleet milestones, steady revenue growth across segments, and ongoing investment in next-generation vessels.For the quarter ended September 30, Algoma posted revenue of C$228 million, up from C$205 million a year earlier, and EBITDA of C$89.7 million, a 19% increase year-over-year. Net earnings came in at C$39.4 million or C$0.97 per share, essentially flat compared to Q3 2024.“This quarter marked a milestone for Algoma with the delivery of the Algoma Legacy…

Ammonia-fuelled bulk carriers could be deployed on the South Africa-Europe iron ore trade route as soon as 2029 and scale toward full decarbonisation by 2035, according to a Global Maritime Forum study released last week.The study found that announced green ammonia projects could meet the corridor’s fuel demand competitively and that Saldanha Bay could emerge as a long-term green bunkering hub, supporting South Africa’s green hydrogen economy and the global transition to zero-emission shipping.To make the corridor operational by 2029…

"We estimate that the dry bulk supply/demand balance will strengthen slightly in 2025 and gradually weaken in 2026 and 2027. Cargo demand growth is slowing, as coal shipments decline and iron ore shipments stagnate,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analysis Manager at BIMCO.Coal shipments are forecast to decline 4.9% between 2025 and 2027. Demand is falling as electricity generation from renewable sources continues to expand, particularly in China, Europe and India. Furthermore…

A Singapore-registered container ship, Wan Hai A17, collided with a Chinese-registered bulk carrier, Hai Li 5, in waters off Guangzhou, China, on October 25 at about 8PM (Singapore time).The Hai Li 5 sunk, and Chinese authorities are conducting search and rescue operations. Two of the 15 crew members remain missing as of October 26.The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) reports that, according to information provided by Wan Hai Lines, Wan Hai A17 remains in stable condition with no injuries reported among its 23 crew members.

Salzgitter Flachstahl and Oldendorff Carriers have entered into a long-term agreement to reduce carbon emissions in the maritime transport of iron ore, marking a further step toward decarbonizing Salzgitter’s steel supply chain.Starting in January 2026, Oldendorff will transport iron ore for Salzgitter from various loading ports to Hamburg using bulk carriers operated with a focus on fuel-efficient practices. By optimizing cargo flows and routing, the collaboration is expected to reduce CO₂e emissions by at least 20%.

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.3 million tons in September, a decrease of 11.5% compared to 2024.  Limestone cargos were also below the month’s five-year average by 6%.Loadings from U.S. quarries decreased 13.5% from last year to 2.7 million tons.  Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 663,144 tons, a decrease of 2.3%.Year-to-date, the limestone trade stands at 19.6 million tons, a decrease of 5.8% compared to 2024.  Loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries decreased 4.2% to 16 million tons; while shipments from Ontario quarries decreased by 12.3% to 3.6 million tons.

Saudi Arabia's Bahri announced the first order of six dry bulk carriers from International Maritime Industries (IMI), a milestone order marking the launch of Saudi Arabia’s first large-scale shipbuilding project.Ths ships will be built at IMI Ras Al-Khair shipyard. No further details on the ships were offered.

The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index, which monitors rates for vessels moving dry bulk commodities, fell on Monday, pressured by declining rates across all vessel segments.The main index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, fell 39 points to 2,220 points.The capesize index dropped 103 points to 3,524 points.Average daily earnings for capesize vessels, which typically transport 150,000-ton cargoes such as iron ore and coal, decreased by $848 to $29,228.Iron ore futures prices declined on Monday, pressured by sluggish steel demand and mounting

Qingdao Beihai shipyard has ordered 10 × Everllence B&W 7G80ME-LGIM (Liquid Gas Injection Methanol) Mk 10.5 engines in connection with the construction of 10 × 325,000 dwt very large ore carriers (VLOC) for Chinese shipping companies, Shandong Shipping and Bohai Ocean Shipping.Each engine will come accompanied by an Everllence proprietary EGRTC (Exhaust Gas Recirculation – Turbocharger Cut-out) system for Tier III NOx compliance.Upon completion, the vessels will immediately go out on charter to Vale S.A.…