Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 18, Taiwanese shipping company Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation has announced plans to order four new fuel-efficient Handymax bulk carriers as part of its strategy to strengthen fleet competitiveness and profitability. The decision was approved during a board meeting on October 16, 2025, authorizing its subsidiary Kuang Ming Shipping to proceed with the order.

Kuang Ming, which focuses on bulk shipping, currently operates a fleet of six Panamax bulk carriers, four Handymax bulk carriers, and one long-term chartered Capesize vessel. The company aims to modernize its fleet through the introduction of high-efficiency vessel designs, thereby enhancing its chartering operations and overall performance.

Handymax bulk carriers, typically ranging between 45,000 and 69,999 deadweight tons (dwt), are designed to transport major commodities such as coal and grain, along with smaller bulk cargoes including bauxite, fertilizer, agricultural goods, cement, and steel.

In a company statement, Yang Ming said: “The decision to order four new Handymax vessels will not only align with the anticipated growth in the bulk shipping market but also support the replacement of aging tonnage, improve fuel efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enabling Kuang Ming to better comply with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) decarbonization and emission-reduction requirements.”

The new Handymax vessels are expected to advance Yang Ming Group’s long-term sustainability objectives by enhancing energy efficiency and lowering carbon emissions. The company emphasized that Kuang Ming’s fleet renewal plan complements the group’s broader efforts to strengthen its eco-friendly containership fleet and global transportation network.

Yang Ming further noted its intention to accelerate digital transformation initiatives, aimed at improving operational efficiency, optimizing logistics management, and meeting evolving customer demands. The group added: “These advancements across its diversified business portfolio will reinforce Yang Ming Group’s foundation for sustainable growth.”

This new order follows a series of recent fleet modernization efforts. In September 2025, Yang Ming commissioned South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean to construct seven 16,000 TEU dual-fuel container ships powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). These 15,880 TEU vessels will be the first LNG dual-fuel container ships in Taiwan equipped with ammonia fuel-ready (AFR) specifications, underscoring the company’s commitment to environmental compliance and future fuel adaptability.

Additionally, over the past few months, Yang Ming has placed two separate orders in Japan for a total of six 8,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel container ships, further diversifying its green-fleet portfolio.

Through these initiatives, Yang Ming Marine continues to strengthen its presence in both the container and bulk shipping markets while advancing toward sustainable and energy-efficient operations in alignment with global maritime decarbonization goals.