Recently, Regional Container Lines Public Company Limited (RCL) confirmed an order for four 4,000 TEU containerships from CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding. Last month (December 2023), RCL announced that its wholly owned Singapore subsidiary Regional Container Lines Pte Ltd. (RCS) had signed a Letter of Intent with a “reputable shipyard” and the order is now effective.
The series of container ships cost US$56.6 million (RMB 405 million) per vessel, with a total order value of US$226.4 million (RMB 1,621 million), and the first ship is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2027. The order is not only to support RCL’s future business expansion, but also contribute to the modernization of the fleet.
The new container ship will feature a new design that allows it to use conventional fuels and reduce fuel consumption by 30-40% compared to other vessels. It can also access port power when berthing, helping to reduce carbon emissions during port operations. In addition, these container ships could be further modified in the future to support alternative fuels and green energy.
It is understood that RCL was established in 1979 as a Thai container shipping company. It currently owns and operates a fleet of 41 vessels, comprising a wide range of container ship sizes. In addition, the company has another fleet to support its own cargo transportation.