COSCO Shipping Lines, the world's fourth-largest container carrier, has signed a contract for six new container ships at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a CSSC-affiliated yard. These conventionally-fueled series, each measuring 336 meters in length, are slated for delivery by 2027.
The ships will be equipped with scrubbers and energy-saving features, including anti-fouling paint and shore power charging systems. Although the financial details remain undisclosed, industry sources estimate the deal is worth over $900 million, settled in renminbi, similar to previous orders from Seaspan.
COSCO boasts a fleet of more than 500 ships, excluding over 50 new builds. Additionally, its Hong Kong-based operator, Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), will charter Seaspan’s new builds for approximately RMB 11.2 billion ($1.57 billion) over 15 years.
This order marks the fourth significant batch of large boxship contracts awarded to the Chinese state-owned yard this year, which has also included orders from Singapore’s Pacific International Lines (PIL) and Hamburg’s Peter Döhle.
