New four-ship deal with MX Bulk sees Isle of Man Ship Registry expand its fleet

Isle of Man Ship Registry (IOMSR) has struck a deal to flag a further four ships with MX Bulk, which is also based on the island.

This new agreement will see the IOMSR flag four new 63,878-tonne bulk carriers being built by the Tsuneishi Group in Zhoushan, China. They include Ellan Manx and Maye Manx as well as Greeba Manx and Kirry Manx which will come into service this autumn.

They will join five other MX Bulk vessels already under the Manx Ensign. IOMSR director Cameron Mitchell said: “We are very pleased to extend our relationship with MX Bulk.

“We share much in common from our Isle of Man headquarters to our dedication to quality, high standards and seafarer welfare. The Isle of Man Ship Registry can now offer support through our China representative Jon Kingdon in Shanghai. 

“Through Jon we can supply on the ground technical support in China while the ships are being built as well as here on the island. The Far East and China remain key growth markets for the IOMSR with two thirds of our fleet now managed in Asia.”

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Mr Mitchell added bulk carriers make up the largest percentage of vessels on the registry followed by oil tankers, gas carriers and chemical tankers.

An MX Bulk spokesperson added: “Our latest new buildings present particular challenges, given the global geopolitical and economic uncertainty which exists in the world today.

“The stability of the Isle of Man as a jurisdiction alongside the professionalism and integrity of the ship registry continues to offer great reassurance for companies such as ours. 

The IOMSR is one of the world’s leading flag states and is ranked 17 in the world by Clarkson’s with around 400 ships and 14m GT under its flag. It is headquartered in Douglas on the Isle of Man.