Atlantic Bulk Carriers Management of Greece has turned to what are possibly its first newbuilding orders in China.

The Piraeus-based company, which has traditionally ordered newbuildings at Japanese and South Korean shipyards, has commissioned China’s Nantong Xiangyu Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering to build three 63,500-dwt bulkers.

A shipbuilding source familiar with the deal said the Coumantaros family-controlled company ordered the trio a few months ago but the deal was never reported.