Shipping Network reported that Mediterranean Shipping (MSC) has recently expanded the number of orders for 8000TEU LNG dual-fuel container ships from 18 to 28, according to Trade Wind. It is reported that Mediterranean Shipping has signed a letter of intent with New Era Shipbuilding and Qingdao Beihai Heavy Industry. New Era is expected to receive orders for as many as 14 ships, and Qingdao Beihai will receive 8 ships. In addition, Hyundai Heavy Industries of South Korea received orders for 6 7700 TEU LNG dual-fuel container ships.

market interest in the 7000-8000TEU medium container ships has been high this year. It is reported that especially the widened ship design and high versatility are the main reasons for its increasing popularity. Container ships of this size are suitable for operating Atlantic routes, Asia-South America routes, and Asia-West Africa routes, and can pass The widened Panama Canal can also be used for trans-Pacific routes. According to incomplete statistics from the shipping network, the order for 7000-8000TEU containers has increased from 0 in 2020 to more than 73 at present. If the 28 Mediterranean shipping ships are added, it will exceed 100. At the same time, it will also exceed the number of 74 ships of the same size currently in operation, which will help the 7000-8000TEU medium container ship to develop into one of the standard ship types in the future market.
As of the end of March this year, South Korean shipyards had received orders for 22 7000-8000TEU container ships. France's Dafei ordered 4+3 7,400TEU LNG dual-fuel power container ships at Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea at a cost of US $0.123 billion each and is expected to be delivered from 2024. South Korea's Changjin Merchant Marine (SINOKOR) and South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries signed an order for six 8,000TEU container ships at a cost of US $98 million each, and delivery is expected to begin in 2024. Hyundai Heavy Industries has received six 8000TEU conventional fuel container ships, which are expected to be delivered in 2024. South Korea's Hyundai Sanhu Heavy Industries has received a contract for the construction of three 7900TEU container ships by East Pacific Shipping at a cost of US $0.118 billion each and is expected to be delivered in 2024. This type of ship will be equipped with LNG dual-fuel power engines to meet the requirements of the new environmental protection regulations of the International Maritime Organization.
As of the end of March this year, Chinese shipyards had received more than 51 orders for 7000-8000TEU container ships. Thailand Honghai Container Transport (RCL) ordered two 7000 TEU container ships in Waigaoqiao, Shanghai. The cost of each ship was US $85 million, and the delivery time was October 2024 and May 2025 respectively. Shipbuilding Group takes orders for the construction of two 7100TEU container ships by German shipowner ALMARITIME HOLDING (ALMH), which is expected to be delivered in 2024. The ship type signed this time adopts the design of a new generation 7100TEU container ship of Shanghai Ship Research and Design Institute. The ship has a total length of 255 meters, a width of 42.8 meters, a depth of 24.6 meters and a design draft of 12 meters.
learned that AL had previously ordered two 7100TEU container ships at US $70 million each, while the shipyard's offer rose to about US $80 million each. Recently, the Big Ship Group has also successfully taken over 2+2 7100TEU container ships from Greek shipowner DANAOS. Singapore's East Pacific Shipping ordered four 7000TEU container ships in New Era Shipbuilding in June last year. They have been leased to France for 8 years at a rent of US $42500 per day and will be delivered in 2023 and 2024.
Recently, East Pacific Shipping has announced the implementation of alternative orders for three 7000TEU container ships built in the new era, with the ship price rising to US $80 million each. It is reported that the three new ships will be leased to the branch liner company X-Press for a term of 5-7 years. Singapore SEA CONSORTIUM placed an order for two 7000TEU container ships at Waigaoqiao Shipyard. The new ship was designed by Shanghai Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI) and is expected to be delivered in 2024. TS LINES ordered 8 7000TEU container ships at Waigaoqiao Shipyard with a contract value of US $0.6 billion and is expected to be delivered between April and November 2024. Last year, SEASPAN ordered at least 24 such medium container ships, of which 15 7000TEU container ships have been leased to ZIM.
According to the statistics of the shipping industry network, in addition to the Mediterranean shipping is very interested in 7000-8000TEU medium-sized container ships, the appetite of ZIM is not small. On March 30, Yixing announced that it had reached a charter agreement with German shipowner MPC Capital for six 5500TEU wide-body containers for a period of seven years and a total rent of US $0.6 billion. It is reported that the ships were built by South Korea Shipyard (HJSC, formerly known as Hanjin Heavy Industry) and are expected to be delivered on land from May 2023 to February 2024. In addition to the above-mentioned transactions, Easton also signed four important long-term charter contracts, including 36 newly-built container ships. Among them, charter contracts were signed with Seaspan for 10 15000TEU LNG dual-fuel container ships. Signed a total of 18 7000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container ships with Seaspan(15) and Kenon Holdings (3); Signed a charter contract with Navios Maritime Partner for 8 5300 TEU wide-body container ships; All new shipbuilding is expected to be delivered in 2023 and 2024.
Up to now, it operates 123 container ships with Star, with a total space of 448800 TEU, up 27.4% from the end of 2020. The number of new ships signed on long-term charter contracts reached 45, with a total of 384400 TEU. This includes 14 5500TEU and 18 7000TEU container ships, totaling 32 medium container ships. As Eli Glickman, CEO of Exing, said, Exing will continue to promote the strategy of leasing highly general-purpose ships, establish a better commercial network, ensure flexibility and improve Exing's status as an innovative shipping supplier.

Source: Shipping Network