Our clients benefit not only from our extensive experience in newbuilding supervision but also from our in-house expertise in implementing cutting-edge technical, commercial, and fuel-efficient designs.
The origins of Columbia Group’s new shipbuilding services date back to 1987, when we designed and supervised the construction of eight reefer vessels built and delivered at Shanghai Shipyard.
Since then, the Company has provided newbuilding services at over 30 shipyards, overseeing the construction of approximately 320 vessels across 10 countries worldwide.
Our extensive experience covers a wide range of vessel types, including Product and Crude Oil Tankers, Chemical Tankers, Reefer Vessels, Bitumen Tankers, LPG Carriers, Bulk Carriers, Container Vessels, Multipurpose Heavy Lift Carriers, Pure Car Truck Carriers, Bunker Supply Ships, Offshore Supply Vessels, Construction Commissioning Service Offshore Vessels, and Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessels.
While our operations are especially active in China, Korea, and Germany, we have also successfully completed projects in Argentina, South Africa, Poland, Japan, Croatia, and Turkey. New shipbuilding projects involve complex processes that demand specialised skills, expertise, experience, and adequate resources. At every stage, careful consideration of financial, technical, operational, commercial, and environmental factors is essential. At Columbia we provide clients with a comprehensive “one-stop” turnkey solution to efficiently manage and oversee their newbuilding projects.
We provide support with market appraisals and assist in structuring and negotiating optimal financing arrangements with lenders.
We leverage our deep understanding of shipyards worldwide — including their organisational structure, capabilities, cost competitiveness, reputation, and track record — to secure the best financial solutions. Our legal team also supports clients with obtaining necessary board approvals, resolutions, authorisations of signatories, and powers of attorney. Additionally, we conduct detailed reviews and analyses of shipbuilding contracts, including negotiation of guarantees and penalty clauses.
While many vessels offered by leading shipyards worldwide today are based on “stock” designs, new shipbuilding projects typically begin with the development of an outline specification and general arrangement tailored to meet specific commercial requirements.
At Columbia, we collaborate closely with the client’s commercial team to define the key commercial parameters of the vessels needed. We also assist in the economic evaluation of the project to determine the optimal size, speed, and number of vessels, taking into account cargo volumes, redundancy requirements, port constraints, and other relevant factors.
This outline specification then serves as the foundation for negotiating and developing the complete newbuilding specification and the equipment makers’ lists in coordination with shipyards. At this stage, key stakeholders include Vessel Design Houses, Shipyards, Towing Tank facilities, and Classification Societies. Columbia Group’s in-house project management team is ideally positioned to oversee these processes, which may involve developing and assessing initial specifications, attending towing tank tests, auditing and shortlisting suitable shipyards, and recommending and negotiating general terms with major equipment suppliers.
We take responsibility for negotiating with shipyards to finalise the newbuilding specification, with a particular focus on minimising additional construction costs and securing maximum guarantees from the shipyards. Finally, we offer a service to review and negotiate shipbuilding contracts on behalf of owners.
Once the shipbuilding contracts are signed, the next critical phase is the review and approval of the ship’s drawings and plans.
At Columbia we rely on a team of highly experienced in-house Naval Architects, Marine Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Navigation and Communication Technicians, Master Mariners, and Protective Coating Engineers to carry out this task. Our specialists leverage extensive know-how and expertise gained from previous newbuilding projects, as well as valuable lessons learned from managing thousands of vessels over the years.
Once the plans and drawings have been approved by classification societies and the owner’s representatives, the shipyard can commence steel cutting and vessel construction.
At this stage, we provide on-site supervision services to ensure that vessels are built in strict accordance with the shipbuilding contracts, specifications, approved drawings, and relevant national and international standards.
All projects are led by the Company’s Technical Director and Project Manager based at our headquarters in Cyprus. On-site, a dedicated Site Team is assembled around a Site Manager — a highly-skilled professional with comprehensive expertise in all aspects of shipbuilding. Depending on the project’s requirements, the Site Manager is supported by specialists experienced in hull and steel construction, outfitting, protective coatings, machinery installation, electronic, electrical, and navigation/communication systems, collectively forming the site supervision team.
The composition of the site team is carefully tailored to the yard’s location, the number and type of vessels, and the project milestones defined in the shipbuilding contracts. The team collaborates closely with the shipyard, subcontractors, and classification surveyors to oversee all stages of construction — from steel cutting, block construction, pre-erection, and erection, to undocking, launching, equipment commissioning, and mooring trials, culminating in sea trials.
Their ultimate responsibility is to manage the training, familiarisation, and smooth handover of the vessel to the crew at delivery.
At Columbia Group, we provide comprehensive handling and follow-up of guarantee claims that may arise during the warranty period of newly delivered vessels entering our management.
