China’s New Times has officially started construction of Himalaya Shipping’s two LNG-powered Newcastlemax bulk carriers.
According to a statement by NTS, the shipbuilder held a steel-cutting ceremony on June 28 for two 210,000-dwt LNG dual-fuel vessels with hull numbers 0120843 and 0120844.
NTS is in total building 12 LNG-fueled bulkers for Himalaya and these are the 11th and the 12th in the batch, the shipbuilder said.
According to Himalaya’s website, the firm will name these vessels Mount Aconcagua and Mount Emai and expects the ships to join its fleet in July 2024.
Earlier this year, Tor Olav Trøim’s Himalaya took delivery of the first vessel, Mount Norefjell, followed by the delivery of the second vessel, Mount Ita, and the third vessel, Mount Etna.
The latest and the fourth LNG-powered bulker, Mount Blanc, joined Himalaya’s fleet on May 31.
NTS also recently launched the LNG dual-fuel, Mount Neblina, the sixth vessel in this batch of twelve.
Up to date, Himalaya secured charter deals for nine of these ships.