China Shipbuilding Industry Corp (CSIC) associated Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry is said to have won a newbuilding order for very large ore carriers from compatriot shipping company.

Shandong Shipping is ordering a series of 250,000DWT VLOCs for $57-58m per vessel, on the back of a long-term contract with Australia’s BHP Billiton.

The owner is planning up to 10 series and the first batch is to be built by Qingdao Beihai, industry sources say.

Other shipyards likely to win the remainder of the series include CSSC Guangzhou Longxue Shipbuilding, Jiangnan Shipyard, Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, etc.