China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) is ready to order as many as 12 new 10,000-teu containerships at domestic state-owned shipbuilding behemoth.
The spending spree could be up to $1.13bn.
The Hong Kong-listed company said it had negotiated eight firm vessels with China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC).
There will be four options attached with the order.
The owner’s directors have sanctioned the contracts, but shareholders must approve before they are confirmed.
The ships will be CSCL's biggest apart from the quartet of 14,074-teu monsters it took delivery of from Samsung this year. Four more of these are due by the end of 2012.