China’s state-run shipping group Cosco is close to finalising a major order for up to 12 LNG dual-fuel container vessels worth more than US$2 billion, reports Singapore’s Splash 247.
Market sources said Cosco is in advanced talks with CSSC’s Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding for a series of 14,000-TEU neo-panamax ships. Pricing is understood to be US$170 million to US$190 million per vessel, taking the overall contract value to about US$2 billion to US$2.3 billion.
The newbuilds are expected to be deployed by Orient Overseas Container Line, Cosco’s Hong Kong-based liner arm. No delivery schedule has been disclosed, but the deal would expand Cosco’s already large orderbook and deepen its commitment to LNG as a marine fuel.
Earlier this year, Cosco booked about US$2.7 billion of new tonnage, including 12 LNG dual-fuel 18,000 TEU vessels at Jiangnan Shipyard and six smaller conventionally fuelled ships at Cosco Zhoushan. The group has also pursued methanol-capable designs, with OOCL ordering 14 methanol dual-fuel 18,500-TEU ships in 2025 at DACKS and NACKS.
OOCL has added chartered tonnage, signing for six 13,000-TEU ships from Seaspan, with deliveries scheduled from late 2026 through early 2028. If confirmed, the Hudong order would push Cosco’s newbuilding pipeline higher. Including OOCL, the group ranks as the world’s fourth-largest liner operator, with a fleet of about 555 vessels and capacity of 3.6 million TEU.
Fleet data show Cosco could have more than 120 ships on order, totalling over 1.4 million TEU, if the latest deal proceeds.
