Siem Shipping has taken a further step in its fleet renewal effort by taking a pair of newbuildings on long-term charter.

Oslo-listed Siem says the ships have been contracted from a Japanese owner over a five-year period.

The 650,000-cbf ships will be built at Shikoku Dockyard for delivery in early 2017, a statement said.

It is not clear if Siem, which trades as Star Reefers, has chartered ships that were already on order or if the vessels have been ordered fresh against the charter.

Shikoku