Polys Hajioannou-led Safe Bulkers said it ordered two newbuildings in Japan, bringing the total number of ships it has under construction there to four.

The pair of 87,000-dwt post-panamaxes is scheduled to be delivered in the first half of 2023, the New York-listed bulker owner said on Wednesday.

That delivery date is "attractive", company chairman Loukas Barmparis said.