Greece's Avin International, better known as a tanker owner, is set to enter boxship sector with placing newbuilding order.
The Vardinoyannis group wing is negotiating an order for two 1,700-teu containerships with China’s Zhejiang Ouhua Shipbuilding, say brokers.
The deal is thought to include options for two more handysize ships.
The talks come amid signs that prices in the container newbuilding and secondhand markets may have bottomed out.
The privately owned yard last contracted ships of this size in March last year for Reederei Nord, with delivery of the newbuildings slated for 2013.
Since then, prices have fallen by around $5m and the ships now under negotiation are likely to cost between $24m and $26m.