Liner giant Evergreen has placed its first ever newbuilding contract in China in a downsized deal for four vessels.
The Taiwanese company has officially commissioned state-owned Jiangnan Shipyard to construct the 2,500-teu vessels for delivery in 2021. The contract does not include any option.
Shipping players familiar with Evergreen says the company has previously only ordered vessels at shipyards in Japan and Taiwan and it also does not charter many Chinese-built containerships.
A Jiangnan executive confirms the Evergreen contract but did not disclose the price-tag of the feeder containerships. Officials at Evergreen were not available for comment.
The containerships will meet IMO Tier III emissions standards and be fitted with scrubbers.
They will be classed by ClassNK and were designed by Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (Sdari).
In August,Evergreen disclosed to the Taiwan Stock Exchange it intended to charter in 14 containerships of 2,500 teu apiece.
It appears the company may have reduced the planned order to four as Jiangnan is the only shipyard linked to the 2,500-teu ships.
The plan is part of Evergreen’s fleet-renewal programme.
Evergreen is also replacing the 1,900-teu size range of vessels with charter deals with several companies for a total of 22 newbuildings.
Japanese companies Marubeni and Shoei Kisen have joined forces and ordered six vessels at compatriot Imabari Shipbuilding.
Nissen Kaiun and Mitsui & Co booked four ships at Imabari while trading house Mitsui & Co placed six vessels at South Korea's Hyundai Mipo Dockyard.
Nissen Kaiun ordered four at Tsuneishi Group (Zhoushan) Shipbuilding and Pacific Ship Management together with Itochu inked two vessels at Yangzijiang Shipbuilding.
Evergreen is scheduled to take delivery of the ships in 2020 and 2021.
