Germany’s HS Shipping Group (HS Schiffahrt) and shipping financier Mare Trust have placed firm orders for four 12,500 dwt multipurpose heavylift vessels at Jiangsu Soho Marine Heavy Industry in China. Deliveries are scheduled between August 2027 and February 2029, with options for six additional ships, potentially bringing the total to 10 vessels. The estimated price for the full series could reach the mid three-digit million dollar range, with each vessel valued around $30 million. Mare Trust will contribute up to €100 million ($117.5 million) in equity to the project. This marks a significant expansion for HS Schiffahrt, which currently operates five MPP units and manages around 30 ships in other segments. The move follows a trend among European owners, with Carsten Rehder Schiffsmakler und Reederei and UK interests also recently contracting new MPP tonnage in India and China, respectively.