Chinese state-owned carrier Sinotrans Shipping has ordered four 1,900 teu container ships from CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding.
The ships, costing USD98.2 million in total, are to be of fuel-efficient design and delivered in May, June, September, and November 2017.
Sinotrans Shipping, which specialises in intra-Asia markets said, “The construction cost of new vessels is relatively low and the company has an advantage of sufficient capital resources. The construction of such energy-saving container ships will enable the company to optimise the composition of its fleet.” It added that owning more ships would reduce its chartering costs.
Meanwhile, local media report that Sinotrans & CSC Group, parent of Sinotrans Shipping, could merge with China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES), as part of China’s plans to consolidate state-owned enterprises.
This post was sourced from IHS Maritime 360: View the original article here.