COSCO Orders Six 13,600 TEU Boxships from Hudong-Zhonghua

Following Seaspan's recent order for 13,600 TEU vessels, COSCO Shipping Lines, one of China's major container shipping companies, has placed an order for six similarly sized ships at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding.

As the world's fourth-largest container line, COSCO has opted for a conventionally fueled series from the CSSC-affiliated yard, with deliveries set for completion by 2027. The newbuilds, measuring 336 meters in length, will be equipped with scrubbers and various energy-saving features, including anti-fouling paint and shore power charging systems.

While the financial details of the deal haven't been disclosed, industry insiders estimate the value to exceed $900 million, with the transaction being settled in renminbi, mirroring the recent Seaspan order.

COSCO Group, which ranks as the fourth-largest container carrier globally, manages a fleet of over 500 ships, not including more than 50 newbuilds. Meanwhile, COSCO-controlled liner Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), based in Hong Kong, will charter Seaspan's newbuilds for 15 years at an estimated cost of RMB11.2 billion ($1.57 billion).

This order represents the fourth batch of large boxship contracts secured by the Chinese state-owned shipyard this year, following agreements with Singapore's Pacific International Lines (PIL) and Germany's Peter Döhle, a shipping company involved in container and bulk vessel operations.