Turkey's rising shipowner Aqmaris has sealed a deal for four bulkers with Chinese builder Wuhu Ship, marking one of the Istanbul-based operator's first major newbuilding agreements.

The four 64,500 dwt vessels will be built to Internationalitime Organization (IMO) Tier III standards and will meet the third phase of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), the latest environmental efficiency benchmark. The ships will be equipped with high-voltage shore power connection devices and will be adaptable to lithium-ion battery packs — features the shipowner believes are essential for its fleet to meet the future

Aqmaris is a relatively new name in the global shipping industry, with headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey. The company has made a rapid entrance into the market: it already taken delivery of its first 64,500 dwt newbuilding and is rumoured to have more projects with Zhoushan Shipyard in addition to thehu yard deal. Aqmaris claims to own, charter and operate dry bulk vessels globally, including bareboat and time charter businesses, and to have the flexibility to trade under Turkish flag.

【Wuhu Shipyard】

Wuhu Shipyard Co., Ltd. (Wuhu Shipyard) is a modern shipbuilding under the umbrella of the company, which owns Wuhu Shipyard headquarters, Weihai Shipbuilding Base, Anhui Haizhi Equipment Research Institute, Shanghai Haizhihiyuan Technology Co., Ltd., Wuhu Fuji Heng Machinery Co., Ltd., Yingxing Financial Leasing (Anhui)., Ltd., and Sanjiaoshui New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Its main business covers shipbuilding and repair, offshore engineering, manufacturing of complete equipment and boxtype modular, and is involved in mechanical manufacturing, bridge engineering, electromechanical products, steel structure engineering, procurement and sales of automobile and casting equipment materials, commodity import and export subcontracting, non-ferrous metal casting, ship design and technical consultation, etc. It is now the largest state-owned shipbuilding enterprise in Anhui Province and important production base for naval vessels.