The Singapore-listed, Chinese shipbuilder has received a firm order for five 3,500 teu newbuilds worth $198m from the undisclosed Japanese shipowner, who is a repeat customer at the yard. There are also options for five more identical vessels which would bring the total order value to $396m.
The five firm vessels will be built at its New Yangzi yard and delivered from November 2022.
“The trade tension in recent years and the Covid-19 pandemic gave rise to increased demand for intraregional and more expedited shipping services, and smaller, energy-efficient vessels are good fits for such demand. This batch of orders will extend our track record of building a rich portfolio of containerships with supreme features,” said Ren Letian, executive chairman and ceo of Yangzijiang.
Excluding options Yangzijiang has secured $1.03bn in new orders this year.
“This was a remarkable achievement especially considering that the global new shipbuilding orders declined by about 50% in the first nine months of 2020 in a depressed market,” Ren said.
