German tonnage provider Asiatic Lloyd is diversifying further beyond its core boxship segment, investing the profits from the high container market in the dry bulk, tanker and car carrier segments.
Container News was informed by a representative of Asiatic Lloyd, which is owned by the Bunnemann family of Germany, has chartered a pair of 82,400 dwt Kamsarmax newbuilding bulk carriers which Japanese tonnage provider Eiko Kisen is building at Japan Marine United Corporation.
The ships will be delivered in June and July 2022 and Asiatic Lloyd has reportedly found an operator to charter the vessels for a long-term period, although further details were not released.
In addition, in January, Asiatic Lloyd commissioned four 50,000 dwt medium-range product tankers at Hyundai Vietnam Shipbuilding for delivery in 2023. The tankers can be powered by methanol, ammonia, or LNG.
Asiatic Lloyd, which owns 15 container ships ranging from Feedermax to Panamax units and has six 7,100 TEU vessels on order at Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company, had also acquired two-decade-old post-Panamax bulk carriers, Pellonia and Potonia, early in 2021.
In the same month, Asiatic Lloyd, through its Singapore-registered subsidiary, AL Maritime Holding, also invested in Norwegian car carrier owner Gram Car Carriers by buying US$12 million of the latter’s shares, as part of a US$121 million private placement that saw Gram listed on the Oslo Bors. Subsequently, German ship owner F Laeisz, Asiatic Lloyd and other Gram backers, mainly AS Clipper and Surfside Holding, established Global Auto Carriers to order four 7,000-unit dual-fuelled car carriers at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard and focus on future forms of propulsion.
Prior to these acquisitions, the company had been maintaining equity stakes in three MR tankers, Harrier Bay, Eagle Bay and Falcon Bay, and three Aframax oil tankers, Pioneer Bay, Polaris Bay and Poseidon Bay, all of which are deployed in pools.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
