STX Offshore & Shipbuilding has signed a contract with an Asian shipowner to build two 37,000dwt bulkers to be built at Jinhae Shipyard, South Korea.

STX said the bulkers will have a length of 189m, a breadth of 30m and a cruising speed of 14.1kt.

The South Korean shipbuilder expects the newbuilds to be delivered by the end of 2011.

Earlier this year, the company said it secured new orders for eight very large ore carriers worth $880m, a next-generation offshore test vessel, dredges and a reclamation vessel.