Fednav Limited, Canada’s largest dry bulk shipping group, has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Oshima Shipbuilding to build four 35,000‐dwt ocean‐going Lakers. The vessels will be constructed at Oshima’s shipyard in Japan, with the first vessel expected to be delivered by mid‐2029.
These Fednav‐Oshima‐designed super‐eco Lakers will be built to specifications similar to vessels recently delivered and will replace older ships, which will retire upon delivery. They will achieve at least a 7% improvement in fuel consumption compared with Fednav’s previous generation and at least a 33% improvement over first‐generation models.
“This newbuilding program is a strategic investment in our core Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway trades and in the future of our fleet,” said Paul Pathy, President and CEO of Fednav. “Working once again with Oshima, these vessels will support our ongoing decarbonization journey while ensuring we continue to deliver safe, reliable, and efficient maritime transportation in our niche markets.”
(Photo of Federal William Paul handy-size Laker built in 2025)