Venergy’s newbuilding order signing. Credit: CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding
Feeder ships continue to dominate newbuilding orders for containerships, driven by Asian players.
During the Posidonia event in Greece this week, Greek owner Venergy Maritime’s container shipping arm, OceanV Maritime, added to its orderbook with two 1,900 teu ships from CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding, with options for another two.
OceanV, set up in 2025, ordered its first two 1,900 teu vessels from Wenchong in December, with options for two more exercised in February, and in April two more similar vessels were ordered.
Malaysian feeder operator and tonnage provider MTT Shipping and Logistics, has made good on its pledge to use part of its $165m IPO proceeds for newbuildings. It ordered two 3,300 teu ships from Wuhu Shipyard, costing nearly $40m each, to be delivered in 2029. These newbuildings will be the largest in MTT’s fleet.
Ningbo Ocean Shipping (NBOSCO) said on Sunday it had ordered four 1,900 teu ships at Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group, with options for another two. Ningbo-Zhoushan Port Group’s liner shipping unit approved the investment in March, saying it had budgeted $251.28m for the order.
Chinese tonnage provider Baozhou Shipping, which was launched during the pandemic-induced boom, has ordered its first newbuildings, two 2,700 teu ships, with options for two more, from Chinese shipbuilders Yangfan Group and Zhejiang Tenglong.
Baozhou commenced operations after acquiring second-hand ships, and today owns the 4,250 teu Everlasting Grace (built 2003) and has 10 newbuildings on order, including six at 1,956 teu, which will also be built by Zhejiang Tenglong.
MB Shipbrokers said the latest orders proved that container newbuilding activity was being driven by Asian owners and operators this year.
The Danish brokerage added: “However we do see growing interest from European buyers, particularly in the mid-size segment.”
On the car-carrier front, Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Maritime has reportedly commissioned a pair of LNG dual-fuelled 7,000-ceu vessels at CIMC Raffles, which has built 10 PCTCs for the UK-based company. Priced around $90m, the ships would be delivered in 2028.
Zodiac, which has chartered some car-carriers to Chinese carmakers BYD and Geely, is banking on expected growth in Chinese electric vehicle exports.
In addition, Japanese shipping group K Line has commissioned four 1,380-ceu LNG dual-fuelled PCTCs at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing) for its European subsidiary, K Line European Sea Highway Services. The ships are designed for intra-Europe shipping to comply with size restrictions at some European ports.