Just one month later, the latest shipbuilding plan between Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding—a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC)—and Taiwan-based shipowner Wan Hai Lines has officially been finalized.
On September 10, Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, in collaboration with China Shipbuilding Trading Co., Ltd. (CSTC), formally signed a contract with Wan Hai Lines for the construction of six 11,000-TEU container ships, marking a new chapter in their partnership.
As early as August 12, Wan Hai Lines had announced it would place an order with Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding for six 11,000-TEU methanol/liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel-ready container ships, with each vessel costing between $118 million and $124 million, bringing the total order value to between $708 million and $744 million.
To date, Wan Hai Lines has placed orders for a total of 8 container ships of 2 different types at Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding this year, including 1 9,200-TEU vessel and 7 11,000-TEU vessels, with the total value of the 8 newbuilds ranging from $928 million to $980 million.
Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding stated that the 11,000 TEU container ship is a new-generation, environmentally friendly, medium-sized container ship independently developed and designed by Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding. In addition to meeting the EEDI Phase III energy efficiency standards, the vessel features a design that accommodates both methanol and LNG dual-fuel systems, providing shipowners with a convenient pathway to transition to clean energy in the future and helping to significantly reduce future carbon emission costs. The hull is equipped with a desulfurization tower and various energy-saving and drag-reduction devices, further optimizing speed and fuel efficiency.
Established in 1965, Wan Hai Lines is a well-known Asian shipping company. The partnership between Wan Hai Lines and Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding began in 2024, when Wan Hai Lines purchased two 7,000-TEU container ships from Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding. These vessels were successfully delivered in the first half of 2026 and have received positive operational feedback. The two orders placed this year mark the second and third collaborations between the two parties.
Currently, Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding has established a comprehensive product portfolio covering vessels ranging from 7,000 TEU to 20,000 TEU, and possesses the capability to independently develop a variety of eco-friendly ship designs, including cutting-edge clean energy solutions such as LNG dual-fuel and methanol-fuel-ready configurations. In terms of construction capabilities, Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding has a mature system for mass production. Thanks to meticulous production management and efficient scheduling of drydock resources, the shipbuilder is able to simultaneously advance the construction of multiple large container ships, achieving continuous, stable, and high-quality, rhythmic deliveries.
Over the past month or so, Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding has been particularly active in the newbuilding market, securing orders for container ships, bulk carriers, and cruise ships, totaling more than 30 vessels (including options). Specifically, these include 10 210,000 DWT bulk carriers for COSCO Shipping Development, 6 11,000-TEU container ships for Wan Hai Lines, 12 21,700-TEU container ships for COSCO Shipping Holdings, and a 2+3 letter of intent for 84,000-ton cruise ships from Norway’s Nor Cruises.