Ocean Network Express (ONE) is said to have shortlisted four shipbuilders in the Far East for five 13,000-teu container ships that it plans to order.
The neo-panamax newbuilding project is said to be worth more than $800m.
Shipbuilding sources identified the yards as Japan’s Imabari Shipbuilding; China’s joint team of Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding and Jiangnan Shipyard; and South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.
News of ONE’s plans to order a series of neo-panamaxes was first reported in TradeWinds in October. Then, the company was reported to be asking for quotes for five or 10 firm 13,000-teu newbuildings, plus options for an additional five vessels.
It was reported to have approached HHI, Samsung Heavy Industries, DSME, Nihon Shipyard, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, Jiangnan Shipyard, Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co and Yangzijiang Shipbuilding.
Sources said ONE has scaled down the number of ships that it is planning to order to five.
“Its original plan was for five firm newbuildings plus options for five additional vessels,” said one source. “But it has dropped the option units.”
Those following ONE’s activities said it has asked the four yards to quote for conventionally fuelled vessels with scrubbers. But they will also be LNG dual-fuel ready.
The fuel choice has taken some observers by surprise, as there is a growing trend for liner companies to opt for dual-fuel ships to reduce their carbon footprint.
But one source believes it may be planning to deploy the ships on South American trades, on which LNG bunkering infrastructure is not easily available.
“It could be due to the LNG bunkering infrastructure constraint that led ONE to choose conventional marine fuel,” said the source.
Shipbuilding players said yards are seeking more than $160m each for the newbuildings. With most yards having limited 2024 berths to offer, they think ONE could only take delivery of the quintet between the end of 2024 and 2025.
ONE declined to comment on its newbuildings activity when contacted.
ONE is a partner in THE Alliance, alongside Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd, Taiwan’s Yang Ming Marine Transport and South Korea’s HMM.
Last month, Yang Ming’s board gave approval to order five 15,000-teu newbuildings as part of its fleet expansion and renewal.
Shipbuilding sources said the company is evaluating the fuel choice for the container ships and once that decision is made, it will invite yards to bid for the project.
According to Clarksons’ Shipping Intelligence Network, 217 neo-panamax containerships of between 12,000 teu and 16,999 teu are under construction. Sixty-nine of these will be powered by LNG, while 12 will be ammonia-fuelled.
