Nine ships! A great start! This veteran shipyard sets a new “largest” record.

At the start of the new year, Wuchang Shipbuilding officially signed and activated contracts for the construction of five 1,100 TEU and four 1,800 TEU container ships, marking a promising beginning.

It is reported that this order may be part of the 87 new vessels contracted between COSCO Shipping Group and China State Shipbuilding Corporation in early December last year. The total value of these 87 new vessels is approximately RMB 50 billion, with cross-border RMB settlements amounting to about RMB 47 billion. This sets a “double record” in China's shipbuilding history: the highest single-contract value and the largest cross-border RMB settlement amount.

According to the announcement released by China State Shipbuilding Corporation at the time, the new shipbuilding projects involve six of its shipyards: Jiangnan Shipyard, Dalian Shipyard, Wuchang Shipyard, Guangzhou Shipyard International, CSIC Chengxi Shipyard, and Beihai Shipyard. The vessel types include ultra-large container ships, ultra-large bulk carriers, very large crude carriers (VLCCs), grain carriers, multi-purpose heavy-lift vessels, MR tankers, ro-ro ferries, and small container ships.

Previously, sources indicated that Wuchang Shipyard secured orders for 11 vessels across three types: two ro-ro ferries, four 1,800 TEU feeder container ships, and five 1,100 TEU feeder container ships.

For reference, Clarkson data indicates that the current newbuilding price for a 1000/1200 TEU feeder vessel is approximately $24.25 million (about RMB 170 million), while an 1800/2100 TEU container ship costs around $32 million (about RMB 224 million).

This marks a rare container ship order for Wuchang Shipbuilding in recent years and sets a new record for the shipyard in container vessel construction. According to Clarkson data, Wuchang Shipbuilding's last container ship order dates back to August 2022, when JJ Shipping ordered two 1,182 TEU container ships—the largest such vessels ever delivered by the shipyard.

Wuchang Shipbuilding noted that this collaboration stems from the company's technological expertise in green intelligent vessels and high-end offshore equipment, coupled with its proven track record in delivering feeder container ships. In recent years, Wuchang Shipbuilding has delivered a series of benchmark projects including LNG-powered offshore vessels, wind-assisted methanol-powered RoRo ships, chemical tankers, and feeder container vessels. All feeder container ships built for renowned domestic and international shipowners have been delivered on schedule with high quality, earning widespread market acclaim for their superior product quality and efficient project management.

Concurrently, Wuchang Shipbuilding fortifies its core brand competitiveness through technological innovation, intensifying independent R&D of new vessel designs. Three independently designed product types—including the 1320TEU methanol dual-fuel container ship and the 1900TEU Bangkok-type container ship—have secured AIP certificates from classification societies, continuously expanding its feeder vessel portfolio. Self-designed vessels including the 18,600 DWT special-coated oil/chemical tanker, 26,000 DWT duplex stainless steel oil/chemical tanker, and 29,000 DWT ammonia-fueled duplex stainless steel chemical tanker have obtained classification society certificates and completed model testing. The shipyard's independently developed chemical tanker designs now span from 7,000 DWT to 29,000 DWT, while its self-developed oil/chemical tanker portfolio has been substantially established. Wuchang Shipbuilding demonstrates outstanding technical integration and innovation capabilities, injecting strong momentum into the green transformation of the shipping industry.

Moving forward, Wuchang Shipbuilding will deepen collaborations with shipowners, classification societies, research institutes, and other industry partners in technological innovation, green and low-carbon solutions, smart vessels, and intelligent manufacturing. Together, we will build a safe, efficient, green, and resilient global maritime system, injecting new momentum into achieving China's maritime and shipbuilding goals for the 15th Five-Year Plan and accelerating the nation's development into a maritime power.

Currently, Wuchang Shipbuilding has initiated preliminary preparations for this series of vessels. The project will be advanced through a rhythmic construction model to ensure high-quality, on-time delivery, creating greater value for customers and contributing to China's maritime power development.

According to Clarkson data, excluding the latest order, Wuchang Shipbuilding currently holds a total of 38 vessels with a combined deadweight tonnage of 640,400 tons. This includes 26 liquid carriers, 7 offshore vessels, 3 roll-on/roll-off ships, and 2 car-passenger ferries, with delivery schedules extending through 2028.