German owner Nordic Hamburg has moved to grow its heavylift fleet， placing an order for three 13，300 dwt multipurpose vessels at China’s Wuhu Shipyard， with options for two more units.

The contract， with an undisclosed value， covers a new series of MPP/heavylift ships designed to handle project cargo， wind components and general freight.

Deliveries have not been disclosed， but the order adds to a steady flow of late-decade newbuilds aimed at the project and renewables trades.

The vessels have been designed to offer cargo hold capacity of about 26，500 cu m and combined lifting capability of up to 500 tonnes， allowing to shift between oversized cargoes and conventional breakbulk work.

The ice-classed newbuilds will feature SCR systems， an optimized hull form and other fuel-saving measures that the yard says will cut fuel consumption by more than 20% compared with older tonnage.

Founded in 2006， Nordic Hamburg has built up a diversified shipping business from its base in Hamburg. The group operates across five major shipping hubs worldwide and manages a fleet of 86 vessels spanning multiple segments.

For Wuhu Shipyard， the deal marks another step forward in its push into higher-end， multipurpose tonnage. The yard has developed a range of standard designs in recent years， from 5，800 dwt up to 14，600 dwt. Alongside the Nordic Hamburg contract， Wuhu has also been active in the dry bulk market. The yard recently secured a series of kamsarmax orders from Chinese owner Fujian Guohang Ocean Shipping.