Limassol, Cyprus. Safe Bulkers, Inc., a Limassol-linked dry-bulk shipowner listed on the New York Stock Exchange, said it has entered into an agreement to acquire two newbuild 82,500 dwt Chinese Kamsarmax class vessels. The company said the vessels are due to be delivered in the third quarter of 2028 and the first quarter of 2029.
Vessel specifications and regulatory compliance
Safe Bulkers said the vessels are designed to meet the Phase 3 requirements of the Energy Efficiency Design Index related to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (IMO GHG – EEDI Phase 3), as adopted by the International Maritime Organisation, and to comply with the latest NOx emissions regulation, NOx Tier III.
Fleet profile and orderbook
The company said the newbuild vessels are sister ships to existing vessels in its fleet and feature energy efficiency characteristics intended to reduce fuel consumption. It also said it has already taken delivery of twelve IMO GHG Phase 3 – NOx Tier III vessels.
Including the latest agreement, Safe Bulkers said its outstanding orderbook comprises eight newbuild vessels, two of which are methanol dual-fuel, with scheduled deliveries of four vessels in 2026, two in 2027, one in 2028 and one in 2029.
Company comment
Loukas Barmparis, president of Safe Bulkers, said the company placed the newbuild orders in line with its fleet renewal strategy, aiming to increase competitiveness and resiliency and to own a modern and environmentally efficient dry bulk fleet.
Business activity
Safe Bulkers said it transports bulk cargoes including grain, coal and iron ore along worldwide shipping routes for users of marine dry bulk transportation services.
What impact do you expect newbuild deliveries in 2028 and 2029 to have on Safe Bulkers’ fleet renewal plans?