Global containership newbuilding projects disclosed year-to-date have almost approached annual new order record of last year.
A total of 43 containership newbuilds were signed in the first four months of this year according Clarkson Research, and new orders surfaced in May were calculated to be 31 units based on a tally by Asiasis that a combined of 74 units turned out to be newly ordered over the first five months of the year, which figure is already approaching a total of 77 newbuildings recorded from last year.
According to Clarkson and Asiasis, accumulated new orders in large containership sector with more than 8,000 teu range amounted to 50 vessels while six medium sized containerships in the range of 3,000-8,000 teu and 18 small sized ones with less than 3,000 teu were ordered.
Particularly, in May alone, orders for a total of 31 containerships were placed and they are; five 18,400 teu ultra-large containerships, two 9,000 teu large containerships, 14 8,800 teu, four 8,700 teu, three 2,500 teu feeder containerships, two 2,200 teu, one 1,100 teu and etc.
Containership newbuilding orders are increasing particularly for large and small sized ones, backed by ▲ attractive newbuilding price which seems to have hit the bottom ▲ advanced Eco-Design development craze ▲ relatively more favorable environment for long-term charter business than other vessel types.
The Oslo-listed ship investment company SinOceanic Shipping ASA which had placed an order for ten 8,800 teu large containerships at China’s privately-owned Jinhai Heavy Industry last week said, “Newbuilding prices for containership are likely to continue to rise in the medium to longer term and even long-term charter agreements are possible now. Thus, investment in containership is more attractive than bulker or tanker in commercial ship sector.”
SinOceanic said that the company and an overseas operator jointly had ordered a vessel which is planned to be built in an advanced ‘Super-Eco’ vessel type and meet the latest IMO CSS Code, stressing its improved eco-friendly performance alongside satisfying with the international regulation.
Moreover, the New York-listed Ship Finance International which had ordered for four 8,700 teu post-panamax large containerships at a Korean shipyard also said, “The 8,700 teu newbuildings are to be built with very high specifications, applied with an advanced Eco-Design,” and added, “We are in negotiation with various leading containership operators for long-term charter agreements.”