Contships Logistics, a Greek feeder container ship owner led by Nikolas Pateras, has launched a major fleet renewal program. The company plans to build up to 30 feeder container ships and has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with a Chinese shipyard.
On October 1, CLC Newbuildings—a wholly-owned subsidiary of Contships Logistics—signed an LOI with Guangji Green Energy Shipbuilding for the construction of 1,300 TEU-class feeder container ships, structured as a firm order for 10 vessels with options for two additional batches of 10. While delivery schedules and vessel costs have not been disclosed, market sources estimate the total value of the 30-vessel order could exceed $800 million.
This container ship is based on the “ContshipMax CV1300” design, jointly developed by Contships and the Shanghai Ship Research and Design Institute (SDARI). With a maximum capacity of 1,324 TEU and 340 reefer plugs, the vessel offers high operational flexibility and significantly improved fuel efficiency and emission performance; its hull dimensions have been specifically optimized for the global feeder container shipping market.
Equipped with a range of eco-friendly technologies—including a Mitsubishi Tier III main engine, an advanced low-pressure Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system, a shaft generator, and new energy-saving devices—this vessel aims to provide a highly efficient, modern platform that balances reliability and reduced environmental impact while meeting the increasingly stringent requirements of global feeder shipping.
According to its official website, Contships Logistics is an independent owner of feeder container vessels, specializing in the operation of vessels ranging from 900 TEU to 2,000 TEU; its current active fleet comprises 27 vessels, all built between 2007 and 2014. The newly announced letter of intent for up to 30 vessels (structured as 10 firm orders plus two options for 10 additional vessels each) in the 1,300 TEU class marks a significant step in the company’s long-term fleet renewal strategy, underscoring its ongoing commitment to investing in efficient, modern tonnage for the global container feeder shipping industry.
Guangji Green Energy Shipbuilding, the yard selected by Contships Logistics for its order, is a large-scale state-owned shipyard invested in and built by the city of Wuxue. The facility features an intelligent, integrated, and unified workshop; it covers an area of 1.3 million square meters and boasts an annual steel processing capacity of 200,000 tons. Equipped with three intelligent steel processing lines, 24 sets of sub-assembly welding robots, ten standardized slipways, and a 500-ton gantry crane, the yard possesses an initial annual production capacity of 30 container ships or bulk carriers.
It is worth noting that if the letter of intent for up to thirty 1,300 TEU-class feeder container ships is converted into a firm contract, it will become the largest international shipbuilding contract secured by Guangji Green Energy Shipbuilding to date.
In addition to the newbuild project for Contships Logistics, international orders signed by Guangji Green Energy Shipbuilding this year include 2+2+2 25,000 DWT multi-purpose vessels for Singapore’s Wealth Holdings Shipping, 2+2+2 1,300 TEU-class container ships for Norway’s SONGA BOX HOLDCO AS, 3+3 900 TEU coastal feeder container ships for Dubai’s EMARAT MARITIME, and two 480 TEU container ships for France’s Marfret.