One of China’s fastest-growing bulker owners, Fujian Highton Development, continues its fleet expansion with the $10.2m purchase of the 14-year-old, 57,000 dwt SFL Yukon, now renamed Xin Hai Tong 61, from John Fredriksen’s SFL Corporation. It marks Highton’s smallest and oldest acquisition this year.
The company has also secured four ships from ArcelorMittal Shipping for $60m — two 2013-built, 82,000 dwt kamsarmaxes (AM Krakow and AM Buchanan) and two similarly aged, 76,000-dwt panamaxes (AM Annaba and AM Zenica), all Chinese-built. This follows its February purchase of two 20-year-old, Japanese-built capes from Zodiac Maritime — the Cape Heron (Mitsui) and Cape Hawk (Namura) — its fourth cape addition since September. These ships have already been delivered.
Primarily a supramax specialist, Highton has steadily diversified. According to VesselsValue, it added 12 bulkers last year and now operates 22 vessels.
