Intra-Asia liner operator Taiwan’s TS Lines has placed an order for up to four 2,900-teu newbuildings at China’s Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding.
The deal lifts the liner company’s orderbook, including options, to 20 ships worth in total more than $1bn.
The contract is for two firm vessels with an option for two additional ships.
A shipping player close to TS Lines confirmed the order, adding that Fujian Mawei is slated to deliver the firm vessels from the second half of 2023.
Officials at Fujian Mawei were not available for comment.
According to shipbuilding players, the vessels will comply with the International Maritime Organization's Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) Phase 3 for greenhouse gas emissions and Tier III NOx standards.
The price of the containerships has not been disclosed but shipbuilding players believe they are priced at more than $40m apiece.
It is the second contract that TS Lines has signed with Fujian Mawei in a space of six weeks.
In early August, it booked four firm 1,100-teu containerships plus two optional ships with the state-owned shipyard for 2023 delivery.
The company was said to be paying between $21m and $23m each for the feeder ships. The 148-metre long and 23.25-metre wide feeder vessels were designed by Shanghai Merchant Ship Design And Research Institute. Each vessel will be able to load 1,140 standard 20-foot containers and will be fitted with 145 reefer sockets.
TS Lines will soon be taking delivery of one 2,700-teu newbuilding from CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding. The vessel will be deployed between China and Australia.
The liner company also has five 1,900-teu boxships under construction at Huangpu Wenchong. They are due for delivery next year.
In July, TS Lines splashed out more than $300m to order four 7,000-teu newbuildings at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding. They will be the largest vessels in its fleet.
TS Lines is scheduled to take delivery of the quartet between 2023 and 2024. It plans to deploy them on the India-Pakistan trade.
TS Lines operates 53 containerships, of which 24 are owned. It is planning to launch an initial public offering in Hong Kong next year. Funds raised could be used to finance the expansion of its fleet.
