Taiwanese container shipping line Wan Hai Lines has ordered eight new containerships from Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding in a deal valued at up to $980 million, further accelerating its fleet expansion programme.
The order comprises one 9,200-TEU vessel and seven 11,000-TEU containerships. The 9,200-TEU ship will be methanol dual-fuel ready, while the seven larger vessels will be designed to be ready for both methanol and LNG dual-fuel operation.
Major fleet investment
The 9,200-TEU vessel is priced at approximately $102 million–$112 million, while each of the seven 11,000-TEU ships will cost between $118 million and $124 million. Including equipment upgrades, the combined value of the two contracts is estimated at $928 million–$980 million.
The latest order strengthens Wan Hai’s relationship with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding and forms part of the carrier’s broader strategy to expand and modernise its containership fleet.
Focus on alternative-fuel capability
The new vessels will incorporate alternative-fuel-ready designs, giving Wan Hai greater flexibility as shipping regulations and customer demand increasingly push the industry towards lower-emission fuels.
The 11,000-TEU ships will be capable of being upgraded for either methanol or LNG dual-fuel operation, while the smaller vessel will be methanol-ready.
More vessels already on order
Wan Hai has been particularly active in the newbuilding market this year. In March, the carrier ordered two 9,200-TEU methanol-ready containerships from Shanghai Waigaoqiao for approximately $204 million–$224 million.
That order was part of a wider six-vessel programme that also included four 6,000-TEU LNG dual-fuel ships from Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding. At the time, Wan Hai had more than 40 vessels on order across shipyards in China, Taiwan and South Korea.
The latest eight-ship order further expands Wan Hai’s pipeline of new tonnage and highlights the carrier’s continued investment in larger, more fuel-flexible vessels as it seeks to strengthen its position in the global container shipping market.
