Zodiac Maritime initiates a US$1.6 billion fleet-renewal program with orders for VLCCs and containerships at Jiangsu New Hantong Ship Heavy Industry.
Zodiac Maritime has launched a fleet-renewal program valued at approximately US$1.6 billion, placing orders for Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and containerships at Jiangsu New Hantong Ship Heavy Industry in China, according to reports from Saint Petersburg's PortNews.
The London-based shipowner, controlled by Eyal Ofer, has booked six VLCCs at the Yangzhong yard, with options to expand the order to eight vessels. Additionally, Zodiac is finalizing plans for up to six 9,000-TEU containerships, with deliveries scheduled for 2028 and 2029.
These orders mark Zodiac's first VLCC acquisitions in over a decade and its inaugural contracts with Jiangsu Hantong. Trade outlets have characterized this deal as one of the yard's most significant packages and a major expansion of Zodiac's VLCC fleet.
In November, Jiangsu Hantong announced it had received 19 orders across four vessel types for delivery in 2028-2029. Subsequent media reports linked Zodiac to the VLCC tankers and containership contracts.
The new vessels will incorporate modern energy-saving technologies while being designed for conventional marine fuels, aligning with current market priorities.
This contract comes amid a surge in VLCC orders at Chinese shipyards as owners secure late-decade slots in anticipation of rising costs. Zodiac has also been associated with suezmax tanker orders in Vietnam and post-Panamax containerships in China this year, bringing its newbuilding tally to over 20 vessels.
Zodiac Maritime, part of Ofer Global, is a privately owned shipping company headquartered in London. It manages a diversified fleet and provides commercial and technical services for the vessels in its portfolio.
