Chinese Taiwanese shipowner T.S.LINES has again placed an order with a mainland shipyard for up to 10 medium-sized container ships.
T.S. LINES has ordered 5 5,000 TEU container ships from CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding with options for another five ships of the same type, according to Trade Winds. The cost of a single ship is about $62.5 million, and the total value of the order is about $625 million (about RMB 4.48 billion), which is expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2028.
The cooperation between T.S.LINES and CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding began in 2019. The two parties have cooperated to build and deliver 1900TEU container ships and 2700TEU container ships. On September 20, 2024, T.S.LINES spent about US$120 million to order two 4300TEU container ships from CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding, which are expected to be delivered in 2027.
This maximum of 10 5000TEU container ships is another cooperation between T.S.LINES and Huangpu Wencong after one year. It is worth noting that this is the largest container ship undertaken by Huangpu Wencong at present, marking that Huangpu Wencong has stepped up to a new level in the field of container construction.
It is understood that Huangpu Wenchong officially entered the medium-sized container shipbuilding market in early 2024 with an order for 4 units of 4,300 TEU container ships from Thailand’s HHLA Container Line. It is reported that Huangpu Wenchong has undertaken at least 16 units of 4,300 TEU container ships.
The official website shows that CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. is a large-scale backbone shipbuilding enterprise under CSSC.The shipyard is the main construction base for military ships, special engineering ships, marine engineering, official ships and commercial cargo ships in South China. It is also the largest and strongest production base for dredging engineering ships and feeder container ships in China.
The yard has five core sites covering an area of nearly 3.2 million square meters, with a total of more than 5,300 meters of wharves, and a number of large docks of 12,000-ton, 25,000-ton, 70,000-ton, 150,000-ton and 200,000-ton classes.
Founded in March 2001, T.S. LINES is the 21st largest liner company in the world, according to Alphaliner data. As of June 30, 2022, the company operates 41 routes and services to 16 countries and regions.
As one of the few Taiwanese shipowners keen on placing orders with mainland shipyards, T.S.LINES also ordered several new ships from Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding last year. On June 6, 2024, T.S.LINES signed a contract with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding to build two 14,000TEU methanol-reserved large container ships and two 7,000TEU medium-sized container ships.
In addition, T.S.LINES also ordered two types of feeder container ships from Mawei Shipbuilding under Fujian Shipbuilding in 2021, including six 2,900TEU container ships and six 1,100TEU containers.