One Greek and two Asian boxship operators have quietly ordered newbuildings at Far East yards.
Technomar Shipping of Greece, Pacific International Lines (PIL) and Korea Marine Transport Co (KMTC) have inked in a number of containership deals.
The Greek owner and Singapore-based PIL have gone back to yards in South Korea and China, respectively, for four wide-beam, 6,600-teu post-panamaxes, while KMTC has signed up for a small feedership at home.
Technomar has exercised options for two 6,600-teu newbuildings at Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries and PIL is said to have added two more 6,600-teu vessels to its portfolio at Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co (DSIC). Finally, intra-Asian operator KMTC is understood to be behind a 1,043-teu vessel at DaeSun Shipbuilding & Engineering.
Well-placed sources say Technomar exercised its options in July but the move was not reported. It raises to four the tally of firm vessels the company has at Hyundai Samho.
The earlier pair was penned in May at a reported high price of $70m apiece. Sources add that all four vessels are for delivery in the first half of 2013.
Meanwhile, PIL has also added two more 6,600-teu vessels at DSIC, bringing its tally at the yard to six.
Sourecs say that one is a new order and the other a conversion from a capesize bulker booked late last year at less than $60m. They say the company’s earlier quartet are for delivery next year and the latest two in 2013.
Meanwhile, KMTC is said to have paid $19.8m for its DaeSun vessel with delivery slated for April 2013. It is understood to have been taken on long-term charter from a Korean shipping bank that has an option for another vessel.