Eastern Pacific Shipping has secured forward charters for four midsize boxship newbuildings under construction in Japan.
The Idan Ofer-controlled shipowner has tied up employment for the 5,900-teu vessels with Asian carrier Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), according to market sources.
The ships are under construction at Imabari Shipbuilding and are scheduled for delivery between January and October 2024.
Hong Kong-based OOCL, which is controlled by Chinese liner giant Cosco Shipping, is taking the vessels for three years at a rate reported in the region of $35,000 per day.
The conventionally fuelled boxships will be equipped with 1,000 reefer plugs and fitted with ballast water treatment systems.
The deals follow a flurry of fixtures involving Eastern Pacific container ships that are under construction.
The Singapore-based tonnage provider already has this month tied up fixtures for 10 newbuildings ranging from 1,800 teu up to 7,000 teu. They will be chartered to French carrier CMA CGM from the third quarter of this year through to January 2025.
Now it has emerged that CMA CGM has also chartered another three vessels under construction for Japanese owners at Imabari’s Hiroshima shipyard.
Alphaliner lists the trio as the 5,500-teu CMA CGM Mercantour, CMA CGM Kruger and CMA CGM Fjordland.
The ships are scheduled for delivery in the third quarter of this year and the first quarter of 2024.
The fixing spree means that most of the larger boxship newbuildings scheduled for delivery in the next 18 months have employment secured, said brokers.
Zim terminations
That contrasts with the pressure building on the charter market for smaller container vessels.
Israeli liner operator Zim is looking to terminate or even to sublet some charters of traditional panamax container ships, according to brokers.
That is adding to the pressure on the market for smaller feeder-size ships, although some modern eco-designs have secured longer periods.
Vasi Shipping of Singapore is behind the fixture of the 1,800-teu Amoureux (built 2023) for close to a year on private terms.
The LNG-ready boxship is set for delivery from Hyundai Mipo Dockyard to Greece’s Capital Maritime & Trading.
A similar vessel, the 1,800-teu Elona II (built 2023), was fixed recently by Mountain Air Shipping of Dubai at a relatively strong $22,000 per day.
That container ship was recently purchased by Norse Shipholding of the UK.
Marfret sells
The softer market for smaller boxships appears to be keeping a lid on asset values.
French liner operator Marfret has sold its second vessel this year, although prices are not expected to be above last done.
The Marseille-based operator is reported to be selling the 1,691-teu Marfret Marajo (built 2008) to Argentina-based Interocean Transportation.
It is the second ship offloaded by Marfret following the sale of the 1,740-teu Durande (built 2003) earlier in the month for a reported $9m.
Separately, two other vessels recently sold by German owners have now emerged in the fleet of Turkish regional operator Medkon Lines.
The Istanbul-based company has surfaced as the new owner of the 1,145-teu Medkon Lia (ex-Kreta S, built 1998) and Medkon Perla (ex-Asiatic Wave, built 2007).
