OOCL has ordered five 23,000-teu containerships at two yards in China in which majority shareholder Cosco Shipping has a major stake.
The ships, costing $155.7m each, have been ordered at Dalian COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co and Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co.
The ships, three from Nantong and two from Dalian, are due to be delivered between the first quarter of year 2023 and the early fourth quarter of year 2023.
OOCL said that based on its evaluation on price, technical terms and delivery schedule, Nantong’s and Dalian’s offers were “among the best amongst the bidders”.
It currently envisages that bank financing will be arranged for about 60% of the contract price of each vessel, with the balance of the contract price to be funded from internal resources.
“The size of the vessels together with the current vessels of smaller size would complete the fleet size of the group and bring economy of scale,” OOCL said on its reasons for ordering the ships.
It added that the deployment of vessels will enable it to strengthen its market position and enhance its cost competitiveness.
This is the second major containership newbuilding order TradeWinds has reported in China this month.
Last week Jiangsu-based Yangzijiang Shipbuilding was said to have secured $880m-worth of boxship newbuildings from Tiger Group’s newly created Greathorse Tiger.
Well-placed sources said the Chinese yard bagged up to eight dual-fuel 14,000-teu newbuildings comprised of two firm vessels plus six options.
