Sinokor Merchant Marine is in talks with two Chinese shipyards for newcastlemax newbuildings after reportedly penning an order for at least four large bulkers at Jinhai Smart Manufacturing.

Shipbuilding sources said the low-profile South Korean shipping company is in discussions with state-owned Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) and Tianjin Xingang Shipbuilding Heavy Industry for 208,000-dwt bulker newbuildings.

It is said to have approached both shipyards for up to four vessels each.