On April 11, bulk carrier owner Yangpu Zhongxin Shipping signed a construction contract with Longhe Shipbuilding for five 114,000 dwt LNG dual-fuel LR2 tankers, with a total transaction value approaching $350 million. This signing represents the largest single order by tonnage that Longhe Shipbuilding has received in its 40-year history.

According to industry sources, the order comprises three firm vessels and two optional units, with a price per vessel of approximately $70 million. The first ship is expected to be delivered in the second half of 2028, with the remaining vessels scheduled for delivery in 2029. All five vessels covered by this contract are new-generation 114,000 dwt green and energy-efficient LR2 tankers, with an overall length of 249 meters and a molded breadth of 44 meters. The vessel design fully incorporates green and environmentally friendly concepts, offering significant energy-saving and emission-reduction characteristics, and is capable of navigating in ice-prone waters, reflecting a high level of technical sophistication and environmental adaptability.

Yangpu Zhongxin Shipping, headquartered in Hainan, entered the shipping industry approximately four to five years ago through the acquisition of secondhand bulk carriers. According to VesselsValue data, the company purchased three post-Panamax bulk carriers built by Yangzijiang Shipbuilding in 2021: the 93,200 dwt Zhong Yin Yuan Yang (formerly Shuangxi, built 2010), Zhong Xin 7 (formerly CK Augusta), and Zhong Xin FaZhan (formerly Rhea, both built 2011).

Longhe Shipbuilding is a key private shipbuilding enterprise in Yangzhou City, located in the Jiangdu Economic Development Zone. The yard possesses the capability to construct vessels of up to 210,000 dwt, with an annual shipbuilding capacity of 800,000 dwt. Currently, the company holds an orderbook of nearly 30 vessels, with its production schedule fully booked through 2029, demonstrating strong market competitiveness and a solid reputation for contract fulfillment.