German owner Briese Schiffahrts has expanded its orderbook, returning to CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding for two more 1,900TEU ships, after commissioning four vessels in April.
The newbuilding price was not disclosed but similar vessels contracted at Huangpu Wenchong in April were priced around US$23 million.
Briese also ordered six 1,800TEU ships from another Chinese shipyard, Huanghai Shipbuilding, this year.
The signing ceremony, held in Huangpu Wenchong's office in Guangzhou with Briese executives connected through a video link, was announced on 3 September and will add to Briese’s fleet of nine owned feeder boxships, which were all secondhand purchases. The company also owns a fleet of multi-purpose vessels, singledecker ships and bulk carriers.
Briese’s orders take Huangpu Wenchong’s orderbook for 1,900TEU ships to 22 vessels. The shipyard's client list includes TS Lines, Kanway Line, China United Lines, Cosmoship, and Asean Seas Line.
The global orderbook-to-fleet ratio has soared from under 10% in mid-2020 to over 22% now, as the red-hot container shipping market spurs liner operators and tonnage providers to build new ships.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
