Nordic Hamburg Orders Three New Heavylift Ships at Wuhu

German shipowner Nordic Hamburg has taken steps to expand its heavylift fleet by ordering three 13,300 dwt multipurpose vessels at China’s Wuhu Shipyard, with options in place for two additional ships.

The deal, whose financial terms were not disclosed, covers a new class of MPP and heavylift vessels designed for transporting project cargo, wind energy components and general cargo.

While delivery dates have not been announced, the order contributes to a growing pipeline of newbuildings scheduled for delivery toward the end of the decade, targeting the project cargo and renewable energy sectors.

The vessels are designed with cargo holds totaling approximately 26,500 cubic meters and a combined lifting capacity of up to 500 tonnes, providing flexibility to handle both oversized project cargo and traditional breakbulk shipments.

The ice-class ships will be equipped with SCR systems, an optimized hull design and other fuel-efficiency technologies. According to the shipyard, these features are expected to reduce fuel consumption by more than 20 percent compared with older vessels.

Established in 2006, Nordic Hamburg has developed a diversified shipping portfolio from its headquarters in Hamburg. The company now operates across five major global shipping hubs and manages a fleet of 86 vessels across multiple market segments.

For Wuhu Shipyard, the contract represents continued progress in its move toward more sophisticated multipurpose tonnage. In recent years, the yard has introduced a series of standard designs ranging from 5,800 dwt to 14,600 dwt. Alongside the Nordic Hamburg order, Wuhu has also remained active in the dry bulk sector, recently securing several kamsarmax contracts from Chinese owner Fujian Guohang Ocean Shipping.