Belgian shipowner Ebe has placed its first-ever shipbuilding order in China, marking a return to the large bulker segment after nearly a decade.

The Basile Aloy-led company has ordered two firm plus one optional 210,000 dwt ammonia-ready newcastlemax bulk carriers at Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding, with delivery of the firm vessels scheduled for the first half of 2029.

Ebe said the vessels will carry the highest ammonia-ready notation, positioning the fleet for the industry’s transition toward low-carbon fuels, without disclosing the financial terms with the CSSC-affiliated yard.

“The vessels will future-proof our fleet and prepare us for the path our industry will inevitably embark upon,” the company said in a statement.

The 210,000 dwt design was developed by China Ship Design & Research Center (CSDC) and meets IMO’s EEDI Phase III efficiency standards. Each ship measures 300 m in length and 50 m in beam, and features a pre-engineered design for ammonia fuel.

Earlier this year, Ebe made headlines when it bought the 2020-built newcastlemax sold by Norway’s 2020 Bulkers, marking its first acquisition of a Chinese-built ship and its first move into the large bulker classes since 2016, when it acquired an Imabari-built capesize.