China: COSCO Shenzhen and CSSC Hold Signing Ceremony for COSCO’s New Bulk Carrier

The signing ceremony for the building of COSCO’s Bulk Carriers Designated for Coastal Services was held between Shenzhen Ocean Shipping Company (“COSCO Shenzhen”), a subsidiary of China COSCO, and China State Shipbuilding Corporation (“CSSC”). The historic ceremony was attended and witnessed by Hon. Wang Yang, Member of CPC Central Political Bureau and Party-secretary of Guangdong Provincial Government, Hon. Huang Huahua, Governor of Guangdong Provincial Government, Zhu Xiaodan, Deputy Governor of Guangdong Province, Captain Wei Jiafu, President and CEO of COSCO Group and Chairman of China COSCO, and Tan Zuojun, President of CSSC.

Prior to the signing ceremony, Hon. Wang Yang and Governor Huang Huahua met with Captain Wei and his COSCO delegation. Both sides exchanged views concerning the framework agreement of strategic cooperation between COSCO and Guangdong Province (“Framework Agreement”).

As a major subsidiary engaged in implementing the Framework Agreement, Shenzhen Ocean Shipping made a plan to contract 8 vessels (totaling approximately 1.6 billion RMB) of a fleet of new bulk carriers specially designated for coastal services in China market to an affiliated shipyard owned and operated by CSSC, a key SOE under the direct administration of State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (“SASAC”). Based on the innovation and design by COSCO Shenzhen, the two types of new bulk vessels, namely Hua Nan Type and Yangtze Type, are large sized bulk vessels that have adopted 12 items of international standards for the best environmental, fuel saving and technically advanced operations. Reflecting the shipbuilding trends for China’s coastal service ships, the vessels will accommodate the future requirements of the Chinese government on standardized ship type and environmental protection.

In a remark made by Captain Wei at the signing ceremony, he said that under the support of Guangdong Provincial Government COSCO Group and CSSC have jointly achieved great progress in Guangdong, and the signing of the 8 bulk vessels will indicate that the two parties will make even greater accomplishment in the next five years and to jointly contribute to the economic developments of Guangdong Province.

[mappress]

Source: cosco, June 29, 2011;