On July 21, COSCOL HK Investment & Development Co., Ltd. issued an invitation to China Merchants Shipbuilding Qingshan Shipyard regarding the construction of a second batch of four 1,800 TEU container ships. This direct procurement involves commissioning the shipbuilder to build the four vessels.
COSCOL HK Investment & Development is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sinotrans Container Lines Co., Ltd. (Sinotrans Container Lines). Once finalized, this project will mark the second time this year that Sinotrans Container Lines has ordered container ships from China Merchants Shipbuilding Qingshan Shipyard.
Previously, on May 15, Sinotrans Container Lines signed a contract with China Merchants Shipbuilding Qingshan Shipyard for the construction of an initial batch of four 1,800 TEU container ships, with a total investment not exceeding RMB 940 million (approximately USD 139 million) and a per-vessel cost not exceeding RMB 235 million. For reference, the total investment for the eight new vessels is approximately RMB 1.8 billion.
In the container ship segment, excluding shipbuilding projects currently under public notice, China Merchants Shipbuilding Qingshan Shipyard has publicly announced 17 newbuild vessels so far this year, all of which are 1,800 TEU container ships. These orders come from Zhonggu Logistics (10 vessels), Sinotrans Container Lines (4 vessels), and Greek shipowner Goldenport Shipmanagement (3 vessels). The newbuilding project for Zhonggu Logistics marks the first order secured by Qingshan Shipyard since it joined China Merchants Shipbuilding.
According to data from Clarkson, China Merchants Shipbuilding Qingshan Shipyard holds orders for two multi-purpose vessels scheduled for delivery in 2027.
China Merchants Shipbuilding Qingshan Shipyard is a shipyard that 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 in April 2018, subsequently pivoting to areas such as steel structure manufacturing and ship repair and conversion.
In October 2024, the shipbuilder announced plans to restart its shipbuilding operations; it is set to fully resume its core shipbuilding business in 2026, currently focusing on the construction of small-to-medium-sized, high-value-added vessels. The shipyard covers an area of 1,700 mu (approximately 113 hectares) and features 2,200 meters of quay frontage, possessing comprehensive capabilities for the design and construction of various vessel types—including bulk carriers, container ships, chemical tankers, and liquefied gas carriers—of up to 100,000 DWT.