CUL Shipping contracts Hudong-Zhonghua for two 14,000 TEU vessels, marking a significant fleet upgrade and entry into the ultra-large container market.
Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. and CUL Shipping Co., Ltd. have officially signed a shipbuilding contract for two 14,000 TEU large container vessels. This agreement marks the first collaboration between the two companies and CUL Shipping's debut in the 10,000+ TEU newbuilding market - a significant milestone in the carrier's fleet upgrade strategy.
The signing ceremony was attended by CUL Shipping President Ding Wei, Vice President and CFO Wang Chaojun, China Classification Society Shanghai Branch General Manager Yang Zheng, and Hudong-Zhonghua Party Secretary and Chairman Chen Jianliang. The contract was formally executed by CUL Shipping Capacity Development Director Hu Jia, CSSC Trading Asia-Pacific Department General Manager Yang Yu, and Hudong-Zhonghua Assistant General Manager and Marketing Director Wang Jiaying, representing all three parties.
According to Shipping World, these vessels are the largest CUL Shipping has ever ordered and the first ultra-large container vessels exceeding the 10,000 TEU threshold in its fleet. In recent years, the company has steadily expanded and upgraded its fleet to align with its trade lane development goals, increasing the proportion of owned tonnage while optimizing its capacity structure. In the first half of this year alone, CUL Shipping ordered four 6,400 TEU mid-size vessels and 2+2 units of 1,900 TEU feeder vessels from Huangpu Wenchong. The addition of two 14,000 TEU vessels marks CUL Shipping's third newbuilding order this year and highlights its strategic move into larger vessel categories to accelerate its fleet transformation.
Founded in 2005, CUL Shipping has rapidly grown, establishing a container transport network that spans China's coastal routes and regions such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, the Red Sea, the eastern Mediterranean, and parts of Africa. As its trade lane network expands, the company has consistently upgraded its fleet, deepening its base of owned tonnage.
CUL Shipping's newbuilding strategy reflects a clear focus on scaling up vessel size. In February 2022, the carrier ordered two 2,700 TEU container vessels at Huangpu Wenchong, followed by two 7,000 TEU vessels contracted at Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding. In April this year, four 6,400 TEU mid-size vessels were added to its fleet. Now, with the 14,000 TEU vessels offering twice the capacity of the 7,000 TEU ships, CUL Shipping has crossed a significant threshold in fleet development.
This fleet expansion aligns with CUL Shipping's efforts to extend its trade lane network. Just one week before this contract, the company announced the launch of the SBS service (Klang-Kolkata Feeder), starting on October 2. This new service, using Port Klang as a transshipment hub, extends its reach to Kolkata, a major gateway on India's eastern seaboard, efficiently connecting cargo from Dalian, Tianjin, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Shantou, Nansha, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.
In August, CUL Shipping launched the JSM Japan-Malaysia service in slot-exchange cooperation with ONE, opening an efficient logistics corridor from Japan to South Asia, the Middle East, and the Red Sea. This service covers key Japanese gateway ports such as Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, and Kobe, connecting via Westport Klang to CUL's westbound mainline network. Earlier in May, CUL Shipping entered the Red Sea and Middle East markets with the launch of the RES Red Sea weekly service, the CGX China-Middle East Direct Express, and the CGS China-Khor Fakkan Express. These services provide a 'direct call priority plus multi-routing' approach, covering China's three key export regions: Bohai Rim, Yangtze River Delta, and Pearl River Delta. In July, the weekly KCI Korea-China-India-Pakistan service commenced, establishing a direct link between Northeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, with CUL Shipping deploying 6,700 TEU vessels as part of a joint service.
From Southeast Asia and South Asia to the Middle East, Red Sea, eastern Mediterranean, and North Africa, CUL Shipping has built a broad container transport network. The introduction of 14,000 TEU vessels will ensure the capacity needed for medium-to-long-haul operations, supporting the company's expanding global footprint.
According to Alphaliner data, CUL Shipping currently operates a fleet of 44 container vessels - 10 owned and 34 chartered - with a total capacity of 105,382 TEU, ranking 22nd among global carriers. An additional 16 vessels, representing 63,693 TEU, are on order, equivalent to 60.4% of its existing capacity. The move into the 10,000+ TEU vessel segment allows CUL Shipping to configure large-scale capacity from the design stage, providing long-term support for its trade lane operations.
The vessels under this contract are independently designed by Hudong-Zhonghua, measuring 335 meters in length, 51 meters in beam, and 30.2 meters in depth, with a design speed of 21 knots. The design uses conventional propulsion, balancing cargo capacity with operational efficiency. It adheres to green shipbuilding principles and low-carbon maritime transport standards. This contract not only begins a new partnership between Hudong-Zhonghua and CUL Shipping but also reflects their shared commitment to advancing China's maritime industry with higher standards of quality and competitiveness.
