Lomar Shipping has boosted its shipping fleet with the acquisition of six container ships ranging from 1,700-teu to 2,492-teu. The vessels, acquired from a number of international owners for undisclosed sums, will all enter the fleet by August this year.

The 1,700-teu Guangzhou Trader is a newbuilding purchased from the Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard with which Lomar has a long-standing relationship. Also acquired are the 2000-built 2,478-teu Devon Trader (formerly Hansa Victory) the 2001-built 2,452-teu Kent Trader (formerly Katharina), both originating from German shipyards. The 2,492-teu Suffolk Trader and Norfolk Trader (formerly ER Helgoland and ER Cuxhaven), both German-built in 2002, were purchased as a pair from ER Schiffahrt. The 1,708-teu Nagoya Trader has also been added to the fleet.

Lomar has a total fleet of over 80 vessels of which 50 are sub-panamax container vessels. Lomar’s newbuilding programme which seeks to replenish the fleet with modern, eco-friendly ships has seen orders for over 25 new vessels with the majority of these new container ships and bulk carriers already delivered.

“We see the sub-panamax class as an under-built sector of the container market and believe in its underlying value,” commented Achim Boehme, Lomar CEO. “We have confidence in the sector and remain committed to growing a comprehensive, diverse fleet of modern ships to meet global transportation needs.”