COSCO Shipping Specialised Carriers has approved the construction of four 40,000 DWT multipurpose heavy-lift vessels as part of a fleet expansion programme linked to the global wind power supply chain.
The newbuilding project will be executed through the company’s wholly owned subsidiary, COSCO Shipping Hong Kong Investment Development, which will act as the investment vehicle. The vessels will be built at CSSC Chengxi Shipbuilding under a shipbuilding contract valued at approximately CNY 1.49 billion, equivalent to about $210 million.
According to the approved delivery schedule, the first vessel is expected to be delivered in or before June 2028. The remaining three vessels are scheduled for delivery by the end of February 2029.
COSCO Shipping Specialised stated that the order reflects structural changes in the wind power sector, including the continued upsizing of wind turbine components and the steady expansion of offshore wind projects into deeper waters. These developments are increasing the demand for vessels with higher lifting capability, larger deck space, and greater operational flexibility.
Once delivered, the four vessels are expected to strengthen the company’s capacity to transport large-scale and specialised cargoes, including wind energy components and other industrial project cargo. The addition of the new tonnage is also intended to support the stability and continuity of logistics services for new energy supply chains.
From a financial perspective, internal projections associated with the investment indicate an estimated internal rate of return (IRR) of about 6.76%, with a static investment payback period of approximately 11.8 years, reflecting the long-term nature of heavy-lift vessel deployment.
