Cargill adds efficient baby-cape vessels to fleet

 Cargill today reached an agreement with CSSC Leasing, a division of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), to time-charter four new baby-cape vessels. The agreement includes an option for two more vessels. Baby-cape vessels are typically between 100,000 and 120,000 deadweight tons; they provide customers with the opportunity to load the optimum amount of cargo to fulfil their supply chains.

“Cargill continues to modernize its fleet to provide long-term competitiveness and environmental performance. These vessels will be among the most efficient in the market. Every aspect of the design, build and management ensures they will perform at the highest level” said Jan Dieleman, president of Cargill’s ocean transportation business.

The ships will be built by CSSC’s Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding and delivered throughout 2020. The vessels are tagged primarily to ship coal and grains.

“Demand for baby-cape vessels grew significantly over the past few years. Cargill is expanding its presence in this segment to meet the needs of our customers.” explained Jeremy Bryan, Cargill’s global physical trading lead.

Leading ship management company, Wah Kwong Group, will oversee the technical management and crewing of the vessels.

Cargill’s 155,000 employees across 70 countries work relentlessly to achieve our purpose of nourishing the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way. Every day, we connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients, and people and animals with the food they need to thrive.

We combine 153 years of experience with new technologies and insights to serve as a trusted partner for food, agriculture, financial and industrial customers in more than 125 countries. Side-by-side, we are building a stronger, sustainable future for agriculture.

Cargill is a leader in global freight trading and bulk vessel operations, annually chartering over 650 dry bulk and tanker vessels on the world’s seas. Cargill’s ocean transportation business is a freight-trading business which provides bulk shipping services to customers across the globe. Since 1956, Cargill has combined first-class operations with expert trading in both physical and financial freight markets.

In the global shipping industry, Cargill supports and is an active participant in the Carbon War Room, the Trident Alliance, the Seamen’s Church Institute and the Sailor’s Society. Cargill was one of the first charterers to publicly encourage the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to ensure effective and robust enforcement of the 0.5 percent Global Sulphur Cap on the high seas. The company has set high-standards for operating a safe and efficient ocean fleet and is a partial owner of RightShip, one of the world’s leading ship vetting companies.