Another multipurpose vessel ordered! A well-known Taiwanese shipowner has once again visited a Japanese shipyard to place an order.

Chinese Taipei–based shipowner Franbo Lines recently announced that it will order a 16,500‑dwt multipurpose vessel (MPP) from an unnamed Japanese shipyard, with the contract valued at approximately US$29 million (about RMB 196 million).

The latest order indicates that, while continuing to modernize its fleet, Zhengde Shipping has once again placed newbuild orders with Japanese shipyards. Reportedly, in April 2024, Zhengde Shipping partnered for the first time with a Chinese shipyard, signing a contract with Jiangsu Haitong Ocean for four 63,500‑dwt Ultramax bulk carriers, thereby breaking its longstanding tradition of ordering new vessels exclusively from Japanese shipyards.

According to reports, Zhengde Shipping was founded in 1998. Starting with ship‑port agency services, the company cultivated a loyal customer base and initially focused on bulk and general cargo shipments between the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, and South Asia. Over time, it expanded into Far East routes and eventually transformed into a global ocean‑freight carrier operating on long‑haul services across all five continents, with the ambition of becoming a world‑leading shipping group.

Zhengde Shipping’s principal customers are major shipping groups in Japan, Europe, and North America. Its fleet comprises multi‑purpose heavy‑lift general cargo vessels and bulk carriers—primarily handy‑size and ultra‑handy‑size types—and the company is committed to planned construction of environmentally friendly, energy‑efficient ships, as well as continuous scrapping of older vessels and replacement with newer ones, thereby strengthening its ability to operate on global routes. The company remains dedicated to enhancing its competitive edge by delivering maritime services characterized by advanced technology, high efficiency, and strong value creation.

According to data from the official website, the fleet under Zhengde Shipping currently comprises 18 vessels with a total carrying capacity of 907,391 deadweight tons, including 13 bulk carriers, 2 general cargo vessels, and 3 multipurpose vessels.

In the first half of this year, Zhengde Shipping reported consolidated revenue of approximately NT$1.177 billion (about RMB 249 million), up 11.52% year over year; gross profit reached NT$470 million (about RMB 100 million), a year-on-year increase of 15.69%; and net profit after tax amounted to NT$412 million (about RMB 87 million), up 40.37% from the same period last year.

In recent years, Zhengde Shipping has been accelerating the expansion of its multipurpose fleet. According to the company’s vessel‑deployment plan, the board of directors has approved a program to order 11 multipurpose vessels, each with a deadweight capacity of 17,400 tonnes. These newbuilds are expected to be delivered sequentially starting in the second quarter of 2027, further bolstering the company’s multipurpose shipping capacity.

Zhengde Shipping stated that multipurpose vessels can carry a wide variety of cargoes, offering significant flexibility. As global demand for heavy‑lift logistics picks up and the construction of wind‑energy, oil, and gas projects gradually resumes, market demand for multipurpose ships with robust loading and lifting capabilities is expected to grow further. Meanwhile, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) continues to strengthen its greenhouse‑gas emission reduction requirements, making multipurpose vessels equipped with energy‑efficiency features and lifting capacity increasingly sought after. Since 2021, charter rates for multipurpose vessels have shown a marked upward trend.