Goldenport Shipmanagement, the ship management arm of Greek shipowner John Dragnis, has joined the wave of Greek owners ordering feeder container ships by placing an order with a Chinese shipyard that has recently resumed shipbuilding operations.
According to various shipping databases, Goldenport has ordered three 1,800 TEU feeder container ships from China Merchants Shipbuilding Qingshan Shipyard, with deliveries scheduled for 2027 and 2028. Clarksons reports that the order was finalized earlier this year.
China Merchants Shipbuilding Qingshan Shipyard is a shipyard that has resumed operations. It had previously announced its withdrawal from the shipbuilding business—ending a 69-year history in the sector—after delivering its final export bulk carrier order in April 2018, subsequently pivoting to areas such as steel structure manufacturing and ship repair and conversion.
In October 2024, the shipyard announced plans to restart its shipbuilding operations; it is set to fully resume its core shipbuilding business in 2026, currently focusing primarily on the construction of small-to-medium-sized, high-value-added vessels.
This shipyard has resumed operations; it had previously announced its exit from the shipbuilding business—concluding a 69-year history in the sector—after delivering its final export bulk carrier order in April 2018, subsequently pivoting to fields such as steel structure manufacturing and ship repair and conversion.
Since the beginning of this year, China Merchants Shipbuilding Qingshan Shipyard has secured contracts for several new vessel projects: in April, Zhonggu Logistics placed an order with the shipyard for ten 1,800 TEU container ships at a cost not exceeding RMB 2.7 billion, with deliveries scheduled for 2028–2029; in May, Sinotrans Container Lines—a subsidiary of China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES)—ordered four 1,800 TEU container ships with a total investment not exceeding RMB 940 million, expected to be delivered successively starting in 2027; additionally, data from Clarkson indicates that two multi-purpose vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2027.
On May 7, 2026, CSC Wuhan Qingshan Shipyard Co., Ltd. was officially renamed China Merchants Shipbuilding Industry Group Wuhan Qingshan Shipyard Co., Ltd. Following the change in its business scope, the company now offers a broader range of services, including licensed activities such as shipbuilding and ship repair.
Currently, the shipyard is ramping up its shipbuilding capacity; a project to upgrade its intelligent manufacturing capabilities for high-tech, eco-friendly vessels—involving a total investment of 700 million yuan—has received official filing approval. The project entails upgrading production facilities, constructing smart workshops and auxiliary infrastructure, implementing digital systems, replacing key equipment, improving employee amenities (such as dining and accommodation), renovating production buildings to eliminate safety hazards, and installing environmental protection and safety systems to ensure full compliance with current regulations.
Regarding the shipowner, this container ship order is part of Goldenport’s strategy to renew and expand its dry bulk and container fleets. In the dry bulk sector, the owner has placed orders with Nantong Xiangyu Offshore & Marine Engineering for two 63,500 DWT Ultramax bulk carriers, with delivery expected in 2029.
Data from Clarksons indicates that Goldenport currently operates a fleet comprising 29 bulk carriers and container ships. Based on current market information—and considering the delivery of 2024 bulk carrier newbuilds alongside the nearing completion of MR product tanker orders placed with Chinese yards—Goldenport appears to have embarked on a new fleet investment cycle. Beyond the aforementioned container ship and bulk carrier orders, Oceangold Tankers (a shipping company controlled by John Dragnis) also holds orders for gas carriers at South Korean shipyards.