SIMIC

The two giant containerships will be the largest in Yangzijiang’s containership portfolio, a step-up from the 10,000 teu, 12,690 teu and 14,000 teu units in its current track record.

The two 690-feu deck carriers are options converted to firm orders, as part of a two plus eight order announced in June 2020. These deck carriers are equipped with dual-fuel engines capable of carrying heavy-lift cargo for both Yangzi River and ocean-going.

Related: SITC returns to Yangzijiang Shipbuilding for six containerships

With these latest order wins, the private Chinese shipbuilder has secured new orders for a total of 53 ships worth approximately $1.77bn for 2020, excluding value of option orders.

“A total new order win of $1.8bn should be considered decent even for a normal year, and the many challenges we tackled in 2020 made it even more precious,” commented Ren Letian, executive chairman and ceo of Yangzijiang.

“More importantly, the orders for the 24,000-teu containership concluded our 2020 on a strong note. Following our successful delivery of the six valemax iron ore carriers, the largest dry bulkers in the world, we are now aspired to achieve another milestone in containership building,” Ren added.

Just one day ahead of Yangzijiang’s new order announcement on 29 December 2020, CSSC announced that its affiliated yards Jiangnan Shipyard and Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding landed orders to construct four 24,000-teu boxships from China’s Bank of Communications Financial Leasing (Bocomm Leasing), for charter to Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), according to reports by both analyst and China’s local media.

Yangzijiang’s containership newbuilding deals are also tipped to be under the same arrangement as CSSC’s orders.