The Greek Contships Logistics Corp., is proceeding with an ambitious fleet renewal program, with the order of up to 30 feeder containerships at a Chinese shipyard.
The company, under Nikola Patras, initially agreed to the construction of 10 vessels with a capacity of 1,324 teu at Hubei Guangji Green Energy Shipbuilding Group, while the agreement includes two series of 10 options.
If all options are exercised, the total size of the investment is estimated to exceed $600 million. The vessels will be based on the “ContshipMax CV1300” design, developed by Contships in cooperation with SDARI, and will feature 340 plugs for refrigerated containers.
The new type of vessels will incorporate Mitsubishi Tier III engines, a shaft generator, and energy-saving systems, aiming for lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions.
Contships currently has a fleet of 27 vessels, with the newest having been built in 2014. The company had sold five feeders in the first quarter, as part of optimizing its fleet, while now 98% of its fleet is covered by charter agreements.