Greek shipowner Tsakos Group has returned to the containership newbuilding market after a four-year hiatus, placing an order for two new vessels with a Chinese shipyard.
Fleet data from Tsakos Group’s official website indicates that the company has ordered two 3,200 TEU containerships from Hengli Heavy Industries, with delivery expected in the fourth quarter of 2028. Shipping industry data shows that the shipbuilding contracts were signed in September 2026; the vessels will be equipped with scrubbers and shore power systems, enabling them to connect to shore-based power supplies.
This project for two container ships marks the second collaboration between Hengli Heavy Industries and the Tsakos Group. The two parties had previously signed a contract for the construction of two 181,500 DWT Capesize bulk carriers, with a unit price of approximately US$78 million and scheduled delivery in 2028.
Meanwhile, this order marks the Tsakos Group’s return to the containership newbuilding market after a four-year hiatus. The company’s last order for containerships dates back to 2022, when it contracted a series of 2,800 TEU vessels from an HD Hyundai shipyard—all of which have since been delivered.
To date, the Tsakos Group’s orderbook has grown to 23 vessels, comprising three VLCCs, five LR1 tankers, nine shuttle tankers, two LNG carriers, two bulk carriers, and two containerships.
Including the fleet of its US-listed core entity, Tsakos Energy Navigation (TEN), the Tsakos Group currently operates a diversified fleet consisting of 83 crude/product tankers, 16 shuttle tankers, four LNG carriers, 13 bulk carriers, and 12 containerships, with a total deadweight tonnage of 13 million tonnes.
In addition to the containership project for the Tsakos Group, Hengli Heavy Industries recently secured an order from German shipowner Elbdeich Reederei for two 3,200 TEU containerships, with delivery expected in 2028.
In the tanker and gas carrier sectors, Hengli Heavy Industries announced orders for 23 new vessels across multiple types over two consecutive days; these include eleven Very Large Ammonia Carriers (VLACs) with capacities of 88,000, 90,000, and 93,000 cubic meters, six VLCCs, two Suezmax tankers, and four LR2 tankers.
As of the end of July 2026, Hengli Heavy Industries held an orderbook totaling 361 vessels, representing 61.67 million deadweight tons (DWT) and 13.48 million compensated gross tons (CGT)—ranking first globally among individual shipyards by CGT. The backlog comprises 135 tankers, 113 bulk carriers, 105 container ships, and 12 VLACs, with delivery schedules extending through 2030.