Germany's Schoeller Holdings has added four more feeder containerships to its orderbook at CSSC Guangzhou Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding in China.
Brokers said the company has declared options for two 2,700-teu vessels and two 1,930-teu ships. Schoeller confirmed the orders to TradeWinds.
The orders lift the two newbuilding contracts at the yard to a total of eight ships, owned by Schoeller subsidiary Cyprus Green World.
The company emerged with a contract for the first two 2,700-teu boxships in April.
The Cyprus-based firm will take delivery of the gearless vessels from mid-2023 to March 2024, according to consultancy Alphaliner.
Detailed design specifications of the ships have yet to be disclosed, Alphaliner added.
But the vessels are expected to be quite similar to a duo of ships recently delivered to Taiwan's TS Lines, the 2,693-teu TS Nansha and TS Hochiminh (both built 2021).
In addition to the 2,700-teu quartet, Cyprus Green World now has four 1,930-teu Bangkokmax vessels contracted at the Chinese yard.
The first two were also ordered in April, with two more options declared since. All four are due in 2023.
$232m investment
TradeWinds has reported the bigger ships as costing $32m apiece, with the Bangkokmax units at $26m.
This would put the total order at $232m for all eight.
Cyprus Green World is said to be an investment fund under the Schoeller umbrella, which also includes shipbroker Hanse Bereederung and ship manager Columbia Shipmanagement.
The group is listed with a mixed fleet of 47 vessels.
These comprise a capesize bulker, eight product tankers, a range of feederships up to 2,758 teu, and four multipurpose/heavylift units.
The Huangpu Wenchong vessels are the only newbuildings on order for the company.
