Laskaridis linked to $312m newcastlemax order in China

Greek shipowner Panos Laskaridis is making a return to the newcastlemax newbuilding market, with his Lavinia Bulkers linked to an order for four vessels worth around $312m in China.

Shipbroking sources have identified Zhoushan Changhong International Shipyard as the builder of the 212,000 dwt bulkers, with delivery scheduled for 2030.

The reported contract is valued at approximately $78m per vessel and is understood to have been agreed last week.

The order would mark Lavinia’s first move into newcastlemax newbuildings since 2013, when the company contracted six ships of this size.

Those vessels remain part of the group’s dry bulk fleet.

Lavinia has concentrated much of its recent bulker investment on smaller tonnage. The company booked eight kamsarmax newbuildings during 2023 and 2024 at Chinese yards, including CMI, COSCO Heavy Industry and Jiangsu New Hantong. Five have since joined the fleet, with another three scheduled for 2027.

The Laskaridis group has also been expanding in crude tankers.In April, its Lavinia Tankers arm was linked to a fourth 157,000 dwt suezmax at South Korea’s DH Shipbuilding, following orders for three sisterships earlier this year.

The $89m vessel extended a programme that began with two units in January before the owner exercised additional options. The tanker expansion followed earlier investments in MR product carriers at Changhong, where Lavinia is now reported to be returning for its latest bulk carrier programme.

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