Regional Container Lines (RCL), a Bangkok-listed shipping company, has placed an order for four new container ships from Chinese shipyards, representing a total investment of $370 million.
This latest expansion aligns with RCL’s ongoing efforts to modernise its fleet and enhance its shipping capabilities across Asia and beyond.
The order includes two 11,000TEU neo-panamax vessels, which have been contracted for a combined total of $250 million. Each of these ships is expected to be delivered by the end of 2027, with individual costs not exceeding $125 million.
Additionally, RCL has commissioned two smaller vessels, valued at $120 million, though specific details about their size and specifications have not yet been disclosed.
This move follows RCL’s previous newbuilding contracts in 2021 and 2022, which were also placed with Chinese shipyards such as Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding and Jiangsu New Yangzi Shipbuilding.
Those earlier orders focused on 7,000 TEU vessels, reinforcing RCL’s commitment to expanding its fleet with modern, efficient ships. Founded in 1979, RCL began as a feeder operator between Bangkok and Singapore. The company has grown significantly, now owning and operating a fleet of container vessels that provide shipper-owned-container (SOC) and carrier-owned-container (COC) services across North Asia, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the Middle East.
