The China Navigation Company (CNCo) held an official naming ceremony for one multipurpose ship and two handysize bulk carriers at Zhejiang Ouhua Shipbuilding, in Zhoushan, China, on June 19.
The multipurpose vessel MV Papuan Chief is the final of the four multipurpose vessels in CNCo’s Chief22 Class series, and the fourth vessel to trade under this name.
The two bulk carriers, Liangchow and Lintan are the 11th and 12th in CNCo’s B.Delta39 series.
“CNCo is midway through a newbuilding programme to upgrade its fleet,” Barnaby Swire, CNCo’s Chairman, said.
”In total, 12 multipurpose vessels and 28 handysize bulk carriers were ordered for delivery between 2013 to 2016.”
Papuan Chief, Liangchow and Lintan are CNCo’s 222nd, 223rd and 224th newbuildings respectively.
After its naming, Papuan Chief, designed specifically for the Pacific Islands trade, will make its maiden calls at Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou in China before proceeding to Taiwan, Papua New Guinea and Australia.
The handysize bulk carriers will be deployed in Swire Bulk’s Pacific fleet.