COSCO Shipping Holdings is in advanced talks for a US$2 billion order of 12 LNG dual-fuel boxships from Hudong-Zhonghua, reports Container Management.
COSCO Shipping Holdings is in advanced talks to order up to 12 LNG dual-fuel neo-Panamax containerships worth about US$2 billion from Hudong-Zhonghua, reports London's Container Management. The deal would mark the group's third major newbuilding programme in 12 months.
Shipbroker reports indicate that the 14,000 TEU ships are priced between US$170 million and US$190 million each, putting the total contract value at approximately US$2 billion to US$2.3 billion. The vessels are expected to be operated by COSCO's unit, Orient Overseas Container Line.
No delivery schedule has been disclosed; however, COSCO's January orders at Jiangnan Shipyard are due from 2028. The neo-Panamax specification is intended to fill a gap in the group's dual-fuel fleet.
In January, COSCO ordered 12 18,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel ships from Jiangnan Shipyard and six conventionally powered vessels from COSCO Zhoushan, together worth US$2.7 billion. This was the group's first commitment to LNG propulsion for large containerships.
In 2025, OOCL separately contracted fourteen 18,500 TEU methanol dual-fuel vessels at DACKS and NACKS for more than US$3 billion. The 14,000 TEU class is aimed at canal-compliant trades, including transpacific, Latin American, and intra-Asian services requiring Panama Canal transit.
