COSCO leads new containership orders from 1,800 to 22,000
A wave of new containership orders spans vessels from 1,800 to 22,000 TEU for delivery from 2028.
A new round of containership orders covers a vast range of vessel sizes, from 1,800 to 22,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). According to the shipbroker DynaLiners, several owners have secured new tonnage for delivery starting in 2028.
COSCO Shipping Holdings accounts for the largest commitment. Other orders involve Peter Döhle Schiffahrts, Thenamaris, and the newly established Xiamen Xinliansheng Shipping. Samsung Heavy Industries has also secured an order from an undisclosed customer, while Turkey’s Bayraktar Shipping is expanding into larger vessels.
COSCO orders 18 ships for US$3 billion
COSCO Shipping Holdings has ordered 18 containerships with a combined capacity of around 283,000 TEU. The orders, split into two series, have a combined value of approximately US$3 billion.
The largest series consists of 12 LNG dual-fuel containerships, each with a capacity of 22,000 TEU. Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding will build these vessels for around US$224 million each. Deliveries are scheduled between 2028 and 2030.
COSCO has also ordered six smaller 3,200 TEU vessels from CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding. Each of these ships will cost approximately US$50.5 million, with deliveries planned for 2028 and 2029.
Peter Döhle and Samsung Heavy add capacity
German non-operating owner Peter Döhle Schiffahrts has ordered two 14,000 TEU containerships from Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding. This latest order follows four vessels of the same size ordered two years ago. The first vessel from that earlier series, the ESL Singapore, was delivered in May. The two newbuildings are expected to arrive during the second half of 2028.
Separately, South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries has confirmed an order for two 13,000 TEU containerships. The conventionally fuelled vessels will be equipped with scrubbers. The contract has a total value of around US$323 million, with delivery scheduled for 2028. Samsung has not disclosed the customer, though market sources have drawn comparisons with a similar order placed earlier this year for Japan’s Mitsui & Co.
Thenamaris and new market entrants
Greek shipowner and manager Thenamaris has ordered four 3,200 TEU containerships from China’s Hengli Heavy Industry. The vessels will use conventional fuel and feature scrubbers. Deliveries are expected in 2028. The order represents a significant expansion for Thenamaris, which currently manages only two containerships of around 5,100 TEU each.
A new Chinese owner, Xiamen Xinliansheng Shipping, has entered the containership market. The company, established only a few months ago, has ordered two 2,000 TEU containerships from Zhejiang Shenzhou Sunshine Heavy Industries. The order also marks a move into containership construction for the shipyard, which has previously built smaller vessels across other ship types. No delivery dates were specified.
Bayraktar expands fleet size
Turkish shipowner Bayraktar Shipping is moving into larger vessels with an order for two 1,800 TEU containerships from Wuhan Qingshan Shipyard. The deal includes options for two additional vessels. Deliveries are expected during 2028 and 2029.
These new ships will be significantly larger than Bayraktar’s existing containerships. Its current seven-ship container fleet averages around 830 TEU, with its largest vessels reaching approximately 1,300 TEU.
