On October 18, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), together with China Shipbuilding Trading Co. Ltd (CSTC), signed a contract for the construction of six self-developed 13,600 TEU large-scale container ships with the world’s largest independent container ship chartering owner, Canada’s Seaspan Company.
This is the third batch of orders for 15 large container ships received by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding this year, and it is the first time to settle in RMB. So far, Hudong-Zhonghua has received orders for more than 100 large and ultra-large container ships, ranking among the top of major shipyards in the world.
The signing of this contract is the second cooperation between Hudong-Zhonghua and Seaspan after the signing of the contract for the construction of three 15,500 TEU-class large container ships in 2021, which will further strengthen the friendly cooperation between the two sides and renew a new chapter of win-win cooperation.
It is a green container ship independently developed by Hudong-Zhonghua, with an overall length of about 336 meters, a beam of 51 meters, a depth of 30.2 meters with a maximum loading capacity of 14,132 TEUs and 2,000 refrigerated container spaces.
Designed with the latest concepts, the ship is equipped with desulphurization towers and energy-saving devices to meet the owner’s needs for subsequent green fuel modifications, ensuring low energy consumption, high speed and green performance.
These features make it fully compliant with the most stringent international environmental protection regulations, providing customers with an efficient and economical marine transportation solution. It is understood that the series of ships are scheduled to be completed and delivered between 2026 and 2028.
It is worth mentioning that this order will be settled in RMB, which is one of the few large shipbuilding order signed by foreign shipowners directly with Chinese shipbuilders by this new payment method so far.
Meanwhile, the adoption of RMB settlement will help Hudong-Zhonghua to reduce exchange risk, enhance profitability and market competitiveness, as well as help the ship owner to reduce financing cost and improve trade efficiency.
Hudong-Zhonghua has been involved in the container ship market since the late 1980s, and so far it has built and undertaken more than 100 container ships, including the world’s first, largest and most advanced 23,000 TEU dual-fuel container ships, the world’s largest 24,000 TEU conventionally-powered container ships, 15,500 TEU, 15,000 TEU, 13,500 TEU, 13,000 TEU dual-fuel (conventional) powered large container ships, as well as 14,000 TEU methanol ready large container ships.
