Wan Hai has purchased its 12th ship since earmarking US$360 million to buy second-hand ships.
The intra-Asia specialist has paid US$41 million to purchase the 2019-built 1,774TEU Filia T, which is currently chartered to China International Marine Containers, from the UK ship owner Lomar Shipping.
Filia T was among a series of feeder ships commissioned by Lomar at Yangzijiang Shipbuilding for US$22 million each, meaning that the UK ship owner has achieved a US$19 million profit from the ship sale.
Between December 2020 and February 2021, Wan Hai has announced the purchases of another 11 vessels.
In 2020, Wan Hai bought 10 second-hand ships, including two 11,923TEU container ships from Pacific International Lines, spending in excess of US$420 million. The liner operator still has around US$39 million remaining from the budget disclosed on 7 December 2020.
Wan Hai has also commissioned two dozen 3,013TEU and 3,055TEU newbuildings from Japan Marine United Corporation and Nihon Shipyard.
The carrier also has fourteen 13,000TEU ships on order at South Korean ship builders Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samsung Heavy Industries.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent