Sky-high US import tariffs, massive US port charges on China-owned or built ships, looming overcapacity and an economic crisis in the making does not stop carriers from a massive ordering spree. This week, all combined, orders for fifty container ships with aggregated capacity for almost 500,000 TEU were placed. They will all hit the water between 2027 and the third quarter of 2029.
Cosco Shipping subsidiary OOCL has ordered fourteen methanol/dual fuel 18,500 TEU box vessels split between affiliated Nantong Cosco KHI Ship Engineering (Nacks) and equally-affiliated Dalian Cosco KHI Ship Engineering (Dacks). They will become available between Q3 2028 and Q3 2029.
Non-operating owner Seaspan Corp has signed for six 11,400 TEU vessels from Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding with delivery penned in for 2027 and 2028. Their price is between USD 125 million and USD 127 million. CoscoSL is understood to be their charterer.
Wan Hai has ordered an additional four dual fuel/methanol-ready 16,000 TEU vessels, on top of the eight it signed for in November 2024 (DL 44/24). The order will again be split equally between the same two yards, Samsung Heavy Industries and HD Hyundai Samho. All vessels will be delivered in 2027 and 2028.
Regional Container Lines has contracted two vessels of 11,000 TEU for delivery in 2028 and two of 4,400 TEU planned for 2027/2028, at USD 125 million and USD million, respectively. Although the yards building them are unknown, it is suggested that the two bigger units will be constructed by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipyard and the smaller ones by Guangzhou Wenchong.
Capital Group of Greece has ordered two batches of newbuildings, eighteen vessels in total. The first order comprises four LNG/dual fuel units of 8,400 TEU from Hyundai Samho, priced around USD 139 million each. They are scheduled for delivery in 2028. Additionally, the Greek non-operating owner signed for eight units of 2,800 TEU and six of 1,800 TEU from Hyundai Mipo, costing USD 60 million and USD 39 million apiece, respectively. They will be launched from 2027 onwards.
Sea Consortium/X-Press Feeders has placed an order for a pair of 2,800 TEU containerships from Hyundai Mipo, at USD 56 million each. They are due in March and May 2027.
SITC has exercised options for two additional 1,800 TEU vessel from Huanghai Shipbuilding, at USD 29 million apiece, with deliveries scheduled for March and May 2028. They bring the total number of ships of this design on order to ten, with deliveries scheduled between end-2026 and mid-2028.
Ningo Ocean Shipping is preparing an order for four 2,700 TEU vessels and has allocated USD 193 million to their construction. They will be tendered soon.
Source: DynaLiners 18/25 – 02 May 2025
