BW Dry Cargo has stealthily amassed a bulker newbuilding catalogue that is larger than the fleet of secondhand ships accumulated since the company was formed early last year.

Its previously unknown tally of kamsarmax and ultramax newbuildings extends to eight firm vessels with options on two more new bulkers, TradeWinds has learned.

BW Dry Cargo was launched in March 2016 to take advantage of distressed asset prices, targeting bulkers in the 50,000-dwt to 90,000-dwt range.