Bulk Carriers News

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.…

Singapore-registered tanker Marine Dynamo and a Malta-registered bulk carrier Flag Gangos have collided south of Tanah Merah in Malaysia.Both vessels are stable, following the incident that occurred in the early hours of September 1, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) informed.Light oil sheens have been sighted in the vicinity of Marine Dynamo. The Master of Marine Dynamo reported that Marine Gas Oil (MGO) used for vessel’s propulsion stored in the service tank above the waterline…

Between January and August 2025, Brazilian iron ore shipments are expected to rise 4% y/y, supported by stronger mining activity. Shipments to China have increased despite weaker demand, replacing shipments from Australia, Peru and India, says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analysis Manager at BIMCO.Brazil is the world’s second-largest exporter of iron ore, accounting for 23% of global shipments, while Australia leads with 54% of cargoes. Out of global shipments, 73% are destined for China while an additional 11% go to other East Asian countries.

Russian grain exports via the Black Sea port Kavkaz, which accounted for almost a quarter of all seaborne exports last season, have been significantly hampered this month due to new ship entry and inspection requirements, industry sources said.Foreign vessels require permission from port authorities and approval of Russia's FSB security service to enter the country's ports, according to a decree in July by President Vladimir Putin.Since the beginning of August, around 350,000 metric tons of grain have been shipped through Kavkaz…

The US Coast Guard and local partners are responding to an explosion aboard the 751-foot Liberia-flagged bulk carrier W-Sapphire in Baltimore Harbor.Responders from Coast Guard Sector Maryland - National Capital Region were dispatched to the area to assist. No injuries have been reported, and the cause of the explosion is under investigation.The vessel remains afloat and is being assisted by tug boats.The Coast Guard has established a 2,000-yard safety zone around the incident location…

Two Norwegian nationals have been jailed in Australia for attempting to possess 80kg of cocaine smuggled in as a parasitic attachment on the hull of a bulk carrier.A man, 53, was sentenced by the Newcastle District Court to nine years’ and 11 months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of four years and 11 months.His accomplice, 35, was sentenced by the same court to 10 years’ and two months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of five years and nine months.The men were charged as part of the AFP’s Operation Oakey which began in January 23…

The Great Lakes iron ore trade lost momentum in July, with shipments totaling 5.1 million tons — a 10.9% decline compared to the same month in 2024, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA). The July volume also came in 1.7% below the five-year average, signaling that weaker conditions are not just a one-month anomaly.The year-to-date picture is similarly soft. Through the first seven months of 2025, the Lakes fleet has moved 21.8 million tons of iron ore, down 14.9% from a year earlier and 7.3% below the five-year average.

The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) and the International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) have signed a two-year partnership to accelerate decarbonization efforts in the dry bulk segment.Bulk carriers account for 42.7% of the world’s oceangoing fleet by deadweight tonnage (dwt) and present unique decarbonization challenges, particularly for small and medium-sized owners operating unpredictable tramp trades.Whilst the industry works to scale low carbon fuel availability and ready ports for their handling and bunkering…

“We estimate the dry bulk supply/demand balance to weaken in both 2025 and 2026, compared to 2024. Demand growth is expected to slow, impacted by a weaker economic outlook for China and the world and a shift in US trade policy,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analysis Manager at BIMCO.The rise in tariffs and the start of trade negotiations by the US have introduced additional uncertainty and are directly impacting 4% of global dry bulk tonne mile demand. In China, this is expected to slow economic growth starting in the second half of 2025…

Taiwan’s U-Ming Marine Transport Corporation has announced that its 64,000dwt bulk carrier, Asian Progress, has successfully completed its first bunkering operation of B24 biofuel (FAME B24) at the Port of Singapore.The vessel is U-Ming’s first vessel to adopt biofuel, with the company aiming to be net-zero emissions by 2050.The bunkering operation was supplied by TFG Marine, with a total volume of 300 metric tons. It is expected to reduce well-to-wake carbon emissions by approximately 20% compared to conventional marine fuel.Since 2023…

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has awarded Approval in Principle (AiP) to HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) for its next-generation 210,000 DWT Newcastlemax bulk carrier design.The innovative design features flexibility for multiple fuel types, including conventional fuels, LNG, ammonia, and methanol, enabling shipowners to adapt to current and emerging environmental regulations and future fuel availability.The vessel design incorporates advanced smart navigation systems…

“We forecast that bulker deliveries will gradually increase this year and in 2026, reaching 41.2m Deadweight Tonnes (DWT) and a six-year high. Bulker newbuilding contracting was strong in 2023 and 2024, and several of the ships ordered during this period are expected to be delivered during this and next year,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analysis Manager at BIMCO.Of the 59.3 million DWT expected to be delivered until the end of 2026, the panamax segment accounts for 33.9% while supramax accounts for 28.3%.

Iron ore prices have been a model of stability in recent months despite the increasing clouds over the outlook for the key steel raw material.The benchmark Singapore Exchange contract ended at $95.25 a metric ton on Monday, down from $95.89 at the previous close but up from the recent nine-month low of $93.35 on July 1.However, the range in the price between that low and the high so far in 2025 of $107.81 a ton on February 12 is a narrow $14.In 2024 the range between the high and the low was around $52 a ton…

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 4.9 million tons in June, a decrease of 9.6% from 2024. Shipments were 1.2% below the month’s five-year average.Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 16.6 million tons, a decrease of 16.1% compared to the previous year’s total. Iron shipments are below their five-year average by 8.9% for the first half of the year.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…

“During the first half of 2025, global coal shipments fell 6% y/y amid weak import demand in large markets. Cargo loadings headed to China and advanced economies slowed considerably, partly due to stronger electricity generation from renewables and to weaker steel production,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analysis Manager at BIMCO.In recent years, China has joined several of the world’s advanced economies in rapidly phasing out fossil fuels from its electricity generation, thus reducing import dependence.

Four seafarers on the Liberian-flagged, Greek-operated bulk carrier Eternity C were killed in a drone and speedboat attack off Yemen, an official with knowledge of the issue said on Tuesday, the second incident in a day after months of calm.The Red Sea, which passes Yemen's coast, has long been a critical waterway for the world's oil and commodities but traffic has dropped since the Iran-aligned Houthi militia began targeting ships in November 2023 in what they said was solidarity with Palestinians against Israel in the Gaza war.The deaths on the Eternity C…