German liner operator Hamburg Süd has gone to China’s Shanghai Shipyard for a series of eight new container ships, the first time the company has ordered ships in China. The medium-sized newbuildings have been contracted for at a price of $50 million each and will be delivered in 2012-13.
The German owner also has ten larger box carriers on order with South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering for delivery running through to July 2012, and has recently placed an order with Hyundai Heavy Industries, its first with that company, for six 9,600TEU ships plus four on option. The Hyundai-built ships, to have a high reefer box capacity, are expected to be placed on the carrier’s run to South America following their delivery in 2013-14.
