Four South Korean shipowners are bidding in Vale’s ongoing tender for newcastlemax bulker newbuildings.

Korea Line, Polaris Shipping, Pan Ocean and H-Line Shipping are competing to provide long-term contracts of affreightment of five years, shipping market sources said.

A Seoul-based source said Vale has yet to specify the number of newcastlemax newbuildings it requires, leading the companies to offer between two and four vessels.