Taiwan’s top lines plan feeder frenzy
Taiwan’s top three containerlines – Evergreen, Yang Ming and Wan Hai – are close to contracting for up to 50 feeder vessels, according to Alphaliner and Braemar ACM.
Evergreen, the world’s seventh largest boxline, is tendering for two series of 12 vessels of 1,800 and 2,700 teu.
Evergreen recently received the Ever Bloom, the last of ten 2,926 teu wide-beam containerships contracted in July 2015 from the carrier’s compatriot shipbuilder CSBC. The ships are part of Evergreen’s 20 unit ‘B-class’ newbuilding program, which comprises 10 ships from CSBC and another 10 vessels of similar, but not identical, design from Japan’s Imabari Group. The CSBC ships’ Japanese half-sisters will be delivered until mid-2019.
Meanwhile, Yang Ming, the world’s eighth largest containerline, is currently negotiating with unspecified yards for a series of ten 2,800 teu vessels, with options for additional ships.
Finally, Guangzhou Wenchong shipyard has been tipped by Braemar ACM as the frontrunner for a mammoth order from Wan Hai Lines. Wan Hai has put out a tender process for eight firm plus four options of 1,900 teu ships, with Braemar ACM claiming Wenchong is likely to win the deal.