On September 16, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding signed a contract with China United Lines Ltd. for the construction of two 14,000-TEU large container ships. The two companies have established their first collaboration through a new class of green, smart container ships.
The vessel type covered by this contract was independently researched, developed, and designed by Hudong-Zhonghua. With a total length of 335 meters, a beam of 51 meters, and a draft of 30.2 meters, it has a design speed of 21 knots and utilizes conventional propulsion, balancing cargo-carrying capacity with operational efficiency. The vessel is equipped with high-efficiency, energy-saving devices such as a spherical-twist rudder and energy-saving ducts. It also utilizes variable-frequency technology for engine room fans and seawater cooling pumps. Through these and other energy-saving measures, the vessel significantly improves energy efficiency, fully embodying the spirit of green shipbuilding and low-carbon shipping.
As a leader in the construction of large container ships in China, Hudong-Zhonghua has consistently remained at the forefront of global container shipbuilding, achieving a significant leap in capacity from 1,714 TEU to 24,000 TEU and setting an industry milestone by delivering more than 100 container ships. Hudong-Zhonghua has earned the widespread trust of numerous internationally renowned shipowners, including CMA CGM, Mediterranean Shipping Company, and COSCO Shipping.
Founded in 2005, China United Lines is a rapidly growing domestic international container liner company. The company has established a container shipping network covering China’s coastal regions, as well as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, the Red Sea, the Eastern Mediterranean, East Africa, and North Africa, along with an operational system that ensures efficient connections and flexible allocation across short-, medium-, and long-haul routes. At the same time, in response to the needs of its route development, China United Lines has steadily expanded and upgraded its fleet, continuously increased the proportion of its own shipping capacity, and focused on optimizing its capacity structure.
The two 14,000-TEU large container ships ordered this time mark China United Lines’ first newbuilding order for vessels with a capacity of over 10,000 TEUs and represent a crucial step in its capacity strategy. As a leading domestic container shipbuilder, Hudong-Zhonghua will leverage its world-class construction capabilities to provide solid support for China United Lines as it expands its shipping capacity and enhances its market competitiveness.