ContainersGreater China

Evergreen readies giant 20-ship order

Taipei: Evergreen Line is close to announcing results from its tender for the construction of twenty 2,800-teu containerships, broking sources in Taiwan tell Splash. The giant order is part of a fleet renewal programme, which will see the Taiwanese liner pension off a swathe of its smaller, older, less fuel-efficient tonnage. The deal is likely to be for 10 firm ships, plus options for 10 more.

The short list of candidates for the order, worth up to $700m, includes Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in Korea, Imabari Shipbuilding in Japan as well as compatriot yard CSBC, headquartered in Kaohsiung.

A source at Evergreen told Splash the board has approved the initial 10-ship order. The options are still to be decided.

Evergreen tends to order en masse. When it signs for new ships, it is usually for more than 10 at a time, and more often than not incorporating a special new design.

According to Alphaliner, Evergreen is Asia’s largest containerline and the fifth largest in the world with a fleet comprising 953,114 slots.

Demand for new 3,000-teu class tonnage is expected to spike in the coming months. A recent survey by our sister title, Maritime CEO, cited that boxship size as among the most attractive investments in shipping at the moment. Full results of the survey are due out tomorrow.

 

With additional reporting by Katherine Si

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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