In order to strengthen its fleet, Thailand’s Regional Container Lines (RCL) continues to order container ships from China.
According to documents submitted by Regional Container Lines to the stock exchange, the company has signed contracts with Chinese shipbuilders to build two 11,000TEU container ships and two 4,400TEU container ships. Regional Container Lines did not disclose the shipbuilders information, only saying that it had signed contracts with “trustworthy and well-known shipbuilders”.
The cost of a single 11,000TEU container ship is US$125 million, and the total value of the two ships is US$250 million (about RMB 1.824 billion), which is expected to be delivered in 2027; the cost of a single 4,400TEU container ship is US$59.7 million, and the total value of the two ships is US$119.4 million (about RMB 871 million), which is expected to be delivered in 2028. The total value of the four new ships is US$369.4 million (about RMB 2.695 billion).
Industry sources, 11,000 TEU container ships may be built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, while 4,400 TEU container ships may be built by CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding.
Last year, Regional Container Lines has ordered six 4,300 TEU container ships from Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding at a cost of US$56.6 million, with a total value of US$339.6 million for the six vessels, which are expected to be delivered by 2027. This is the largest container ship undertaken by Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding at that time.
“The additional 11,000TEU and 4,400TEU ships are in line with the company’s strategy to increase fleet strength, expand into new markets and strengthen the existing network,” Regional Container Lines said in a press release. “This move will not only improve operational efficiency but also support the long-term time charter market, where demand is expected to remain high.”
It is understood that Regional Container Lines is a traditional liner company with a long history in Asia. It mainly provides liner services and container feeder transportation services in East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the Indian Peninsula. It ranks 20th on the Alphaliner shipping company list. Its fleet has 28 ships with a total deadweight of 86,400 TEUs. With a fleet of 28 ships with a total deadweight of 86,400 TEU, the company has orders for 17 new ships, which will more than double its capacity after delivery.