Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is finalising a technology transfer agreement with China’s Sinopacific Shipbuilding Group to develop energy-efficient kamsarmax bulk carriers.
The Japanese yard is seeking ties with shipbuilders in strategic countries; last year, it signed a three-year technology and licensing agreement to support India’s Larsen & Toubro Shipbuilding with ship design, construction, quality control and material procurement.
Sinopacific Shipbuilding said on its website that it “intends to co-operate with MHI for jointly optimising the design of the 82,000 dwt kamsarmax bulk carrier”.
It said: “Co-operation with the bulk carrier expert will maintain Sinopacific’s leading position in the niche market of bulk carriers.”
According to agreement, to be finalised on March 12, MHI will sell its expertise building energy-efficient 82,000 dwt bulkers to Sinopacific Shipbuilding. They will then launch a joint brand for this vessel type.