Eyal Ofer's Zodiac Maritime is closing in on an order for a series of neo-panamax containership newbuildings in South Korea.
The move, which could lead to a deal worth up to $600m, sees the diversified shipowner join a growing list of players looking to order large boxship newbuildings.
Newbuilding sources said Zodiac is looking at between four and six vessels, and multiple optional berths.
The size of the vessels under discussion is in the range of 13,000 teu to 15,000 teu, with the expectation that any firm order may be for the larger capacity ships.
TradeWinds understands that the initial enquiry included an option to quote on dual-fuel vessels, which would bunker LNG in addition to conventional fuels.
But those tracking this business closely suggested that Monaco-headquartered Zodiac may opt for conventionally-fuelled vessels.
For the 15,000-teu size, the ships would be priced at just over $100m per ship.
There are mixed reports about the status of these newbuildings.
Multiple sources indicated that South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering is best placed to win the business, with some hinting that the yard may already have secured an initial agreement on the ships.
But others close to the shipyard said the vessels remain under discussion.
Zodiac has been asked to comment on the newbuilding talk.
Shipyards, who have been starved of orders for much of this year, are seeing something of an increase in enquiries for containerships.
The move reflects the improved market for the sector, which has led to both new business being floated and the revival of fleet-renewal order talks that were put on hold earlier this year as the Covid-19 pandemic took hold.
Last week, TradeWinds reported that yards are witnessing a surge in interest in the workhorse neo-panamax-size boxships.
Costamare and Capital Product Partners were named as being among other companies showing interest.
In August, Evergreen Marine approached five yards for up to 10 containership newbuildings worth more than $1bn.
The Taiwanese liner giant asked for offers on six firm vessels of 15,000 teu each, with options for four more, which would be built with conventional fuelling.
Chinese yards Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group), Jiangnan Shipyard and Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, along with Japan’s Imabari Shipbuilding and South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries were invited to quote on this business.
The neo-panamax newbuilding interest comes alongside Hapag-Lloyd's revived talks and Mediterranean Shipping Co's enquiry for ultra-large containerships of around 23,000 teu in size.
