Taiwanese shipbuilder CSBC is said to have inked a contract to build four containerships for $92m in total ($23m apiece) with Hong Kong-listed SITC.

SITC announced on November 13 through a regulatory filing that the Hong Kong-listed owner had exercised an option for four 1,800 teu boxships at CSBC.

These four newbuildings are scheduled for delivery in May and July, 2015, and January and March, 2016, respectively.

Back in April this year, the two companies had put pens on a newbuilding contract for 2+6 vessels in the same size and the owner exercised two options among six in June before the latest deal penned for the rest four options.

SITC explained that this decision for exercising further options had been driven by an aim to expand its owned containership fleet in order to meet rising demands. The company said that the construction costs will be secured through external financing as well internal funds.