CSBC will construct the 2,800-teu vessels, it told its own investors today.
The first of the ships will be delivered in the second half of 2017 with the series to be completed in the first six months of 2018.
Evergreen is likely to deploy the ships in the Intra-Asia business.
Anchor Chang, chairman of Evergreen Marine, and CSBC counterpart Sun-Quae Lai signed the contracts.
Bronson Hsieh, second vice chairman of Evergreen, said: “After the negotiations of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) are concluded, the ASEAN countries, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand are expected to remove trade barriers, enhancing bilateral trades and thereby boosting regional cargo growth.
“Our decision to invest in these newbuildings is aimed at providing for the growth potential brought about by this free trade development.”
Energy-saving devices on the vessels will lead to a 10% fuel consumption cut relative to traditional bow designs, a statement said.
Second summer order
This is the second time this summer the company has constructed feederships.
In July it split 10 vessels of the same size evenly between CSBC and Imabari of Japan.
On the mega-boxship sector, Evergreen signed a deal early this year to charter 11 newbuildings of 18,000 teu from Shoei Kisen Kaisha of Japan. The vessels are under construction at Imabari and are slated for delivery in 2018 and 2019.
It is also scheduled to take delivery of five 14,000-teu newbuildings from Samsung Heavy Industries in 2016, chartering the quintet from Greek owner Costamare on a long-term basis.
