Dubai-based feeder container player Unifeeder has revealed that it has chartered two container ship newbuildings from Angeliki Frangou-led Navios Maritime Partners.
The company, a subsidiary of ports and logistics giant DP World, has fixed the 5,313-teu Navios Unite and Navios Utmost, which have both been delivered by Zhoushan Changhong International Shipyard.
Unifeeder did not provide details about the terms of the charter but told TradeWinds that the vessels are on a “longer-period” charter.
Both are Sapphire 5300-type compact gearless container vessels, which Unifeeder said “feature cutting-edge maritime technologies designed to enhance cargo-handling efficiency, reduce operational costs and contribute to a more sustainable maritime industry”.
Unifeeder said the two ships are joining its fleet as part of a fleet renewal plan that will deploy more efficient vessels as it continues to test alternative fuels and monitor the availability of fuel supplies.
Unifeeder said the Navios Utmost had technology capable of reducing carbon emissions by up to 20% for its intended routes.
The compact design was also said to allow for greater manoeuvrability and access to smaller ports, including inland terminals, thus opening new opportunities to expand supply chain networks.
The Navios Utmost will be integrated into Unifeeder’s Far East Madras Express Service, while the Navios Unite will join the Asian Gulf India Service.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, group chairman and CEO of DP World, said: “These vessels are a significant step forward in our efforts to reshape the future of global trade, ensuring it remains resilient and sustainable.”
Unifeeder is positioning itself as a frontrunner in sustainable liner shipping.
This year, the company secured long-term charter agreements for a raft of methanol-capable feeder container vessels from German-based shipowning group Elbdeich Reederei and Oslo-listed shipowner MPC Container Ships.
Other recent initiatives include a strategic collaboration with MPC Container to invest in energy efficiency technology, as well as the launch of GreenBox, a new carbon insetting solution to decarbonise the seaborne sections of its customers’ supply chains.
