Bulk freight shipping services provider Rand Logistics has selected China’s Chengxi Shipyard for the construction and assembly of a new forebody for its Danish-flagged vessel.

The forebody will be attached to the aft section of the chemical tanker, which Rand Logistics acquired in March this year.

The vessel is scheduled to hit waters in the second half of 2015 and will be the first Canadian-flagged river-class self-unloader on the Great Lakes for more than four decades, claims the company.

“The new vessel will have the largest carrying capacity compared with existing Canadian river-class self-unloaders on the Great Lakes.”

With this development, Rand’s fleet will comprise ten Canadian-flagged and seven US-flagged vessels.

Rand Logistics said that the new vessel will have the largest carrying capacity compared with existing Canadian river-class self-unloaders on the Great Lakes. The company plans to operate five of the seven ships in the market.

Lower Lakes Towing president Scott Bravener said: “We are very pleased to be working with the Chengxi shipyard on this important project for our company.”

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“As previously disclosed, much of the tonnage that will be dedicated to our 17th vessel is a result of market share gains that we have been awarded beginning in the 2015 sailing season.”

Chengxi Shipyard is primarily engaged in specialised ship repair and large-scale conversion projects.

Rand Logistics was formed in 2006 with the acquisition of capital stock of Lower Lakes Towing and its affiliates.

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