Taiwan's Yang Ming Marine Transport is seeking for five 14,000-16,000TEU containership newbuildings.
It is now looking for a leasing partner to add the ultra-large boxships to its fleet, sources say.
Yang Ming is in talks with shipyards, but long-term charter deals are being discussed instead of direct ship orders from yards.
The box line is forecast to issue a tender soon to invite offers from Taiwanese, South Korean and Japanese shipbuilders.