After ordering four containerships on Tuesday, Sinotrans has ordered six handysize bulkers from China’s Shanhaiguan New Shipbuilding Industry Co for $23.15m each or $138.9m in total.

The “energy-saving” bulkers will each be 38,800 dwt, and are set for delivery in June, August, October and December 2017, and March and May 2018, respectively.

Sinotrans said the order was spurred by the relatively low construction cost of new vessels and the company’s access to “sufficient capital resources”.

“The construction of such energy-saving dry bulk vessels will enable the company to optimize the composition of its fleet of dry bulk vessels, expand the capacity of its self-owned fleet of dry bulk vessels and increase the flexibility in the development of the company’s chartering business of dry bulk vessels,” Sinotrans stated in a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange today.

A 10% deposit per vessel has been paid by Sinotrans, with the balance payable in four installments.