On August 7, CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, announced that it had signed a contract with T.S. Lines to build four 5,300 TEU container ships. The construction cost and delivery time were not disclosed at that time.
According to foreign media reports, this series of container ships is expected to be delivered between June 2028 and December 2028, with each ship costing approximately US$61.3 million. Based on this calculation, the total value of the four new ships is US$245.2 million.
Notably, T.S. Lines has decided to upgrade the two 4,300 TEU container ships it previously ordered from Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding in September 2024. The upgraded ships will align with the specifications of the newly contracted ships, reaching 5,300 TEU, with each ship’s cost increasing to US$62.8 million, bringing the total number of ships in the series to six. Based on this calculation, the total value of the six new ships is approximately US$370 million.
According to a statement released by Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding on September 20, 2024, the single ship cost of the 4,300 TEU container ship signed by both parties at that time was approximately US$60 million. In comparison, the cost of each ship will increase by US$2.8 million after the upgrade, with delivery expected in 2027.
The 5,300 TEU container ship is the latest masterpiece in the “Honghu” series independently developed by Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding. This series of ships has become a benchmark in the global medium-sized container ship market with its outstanding economic and environmental performance.
As a model of independent innovation in China’s shipbuilding industry, the “Honghu” series container ship has achieved fully independent intellectual property rights in terms of ship type research and development, core design, and construction technology. Its advanced hull line optimization and Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) far exceed international standards, fully meeting the IMO 2050 emission reduction requirements.
At the same time, this ship adopts the “green ship” design concept and reserves plans for future conversion to clean fuels, demonstrating Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding’s forward-looking technological layout. After being launched on the market, it quickly gained the favor of mainstream shipowners in Europe and Asia-Pacific, and successfully entered the two major international mainstream markets, indicating that Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding has achieved phased results in the independent research and development of medium-sized containers and has been recognized by the market.
T.S.Lines, one of the most dynamic shipping companies in the Asia-Pacific region, has established a deep partnership with Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding since 2019. Over the past five years, the scale of their collaboration has continued to expand, from 1,900 TEU feeder container ships to today’s 5,300 TEU medium-sized container ships, with cumulative orders reaching 14 ships.
As one of the most dynamic shipping companies in the Asia-Pacific region, T.S.Lines was established in 2001 and ranks as the 20th largest container shipping company in the world in terms of transport capacity, operating a fleet of approximately 40 ships. The company said that the newbuildings will expand the size of its own fleet and increase its total transport capacity, enabling it to better respond to market demand, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.