South Korea's STX Offshore & Shipbuilding revealed on 16 November that it inked new order for 2+4 16,000-teu ultra-large boxships from European shipping company.
Also, STX finalized newbuilding contract modification with European owner, previously ordered in October 2010, to scale up four containerships into 16,000-teu.
New order and adjusted newbuilding contract totals $1.6bn.
The 16,000-teu boxships, 399m in length, 54m in breadth and 30m in height, are built at Jinhae yard with delivery starting from Q3 2014.
Meanwhile, the recent 2+4 16,000-teu newbuildings are estimated to be ordered from Zodiac. It had previously placed new order for 4+6 13,000-teu boxships in October 2010.
The second largest boxship in the world after 18,000-teu lowers transportation costs as well as CO2 and other noxious gas emission. Also, it introduced a fuel-efficient technology to reduce sludges.
STX said, "The newly ordered contract is considered as a first runner for future new order for large containership and global containership owners' preparatory fleet arrangement for large-boxship is forecast to continue for a while."