Columbia Shipmanagement Orders Four 50,000 DWT MR Tankers from CSSC Shipyard
Columbia Shipmanagement has ordered four 50,000 DWT MR product tankers from China’s CSSC Chengxi Shipyard in a newbuilding deal valued at approximately $171 million. The order adds new capacity to the shipping industry and reflects continued investment in modern product tanker vessels for international maritime trade.
According to shipping broker Banchero Costa, the first vessel is priced at approximately $45 million, while each of the remaining three tankers is priced at approximately $42 million. The four vessels are expected to be built and delivered between 2029 and 2030, with the total contract value estimated at approximately $171 million.
CSSC Chengxi Secures Further Product Tanker Business
The Columbia Shipmanagement order strengthens the newbuilding orderbook of CSSC Chengxi Shipyard, a major Chinese shipyard operating under China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).
The shipyard recently signed a separate contract with Cyprus-based shipowner Schoeller Holdings for four MR2 product tankers during the 32nd SMM Hamburg maritime trade fair.
The additional tanker contracts underline the role of Chinese shipyards in meeting demand for commercial shipping vessels, particularly in the product tanker segment.
Shipyard Also Expands Bulk Carrier Construction
CSSC Chengxi Shipyard is also active in the bulk carrier market. On September 1, CSSC (Hong Kong) Shipping Company Limited announced that it would build ten 80,000 DWT bulk carriers at the shipyard.
The total construction cost for the ten bulk carriers is RMB 3.235 billion. Deliveries are scheduled for September 30, 2029, and December 31, 2030.
CSSC Guangxi Shipbuilding is also participating in the project, sharing responsibility with CSSC Chengxi Shipyard for the vessels’ design, construction and delivery.
CSSC Chengxi Shipyard Records More Than 30 Newbuilding Orders
CSSC Chengxi Shipyard is a key shipbuilding enterprise under China State Shipbuilding Corporation and a core participant in Jiangsu Province’s shipbuilding and marine engineering industry.
The company operates three production bases: its headquarters in Jiangyin, CSSC Chengxi (Taizhou) Equipment Technology Co., Ltd., and CSSC Chengxi Yangzhou Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., which focuses primarily on ship construction.
Since the beginning of this year, CSSC Chengxi Shipyard has publicly announced more than 30 newbuilding orders, covering activity across its shipbuilding operations.
Newbuilding Investment Supports Future Tanker Capacity
The Columbia Shipmanagement contract provides a clear example of long-term investment in tanker newbuilding. MR product tankers are used to transport refined petroleum products and other liquid cargoes, making them an important part of the global shipping industry and maritime supply chain.
The 2029–2030 delivery window also shows the long-term nature of the shipbuilding market, where owners secure future vessel capacity well ahead of delivery. For shipyards, a strong orderbook provides production visibility over several years, while shipowners can plan future fleet expansion through newbuilding contracts.
With Columbia Shipmanagement’s four-vessel order added to recent product tanker and bulk carrier contracts, CSSC Chengxi Shipyard continues to build a diversified commercial vessel orderbook across major segments of the maritime industry.
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