Centrofin Management Orders Pair of 6,000 TEU Container Ships from Hengli Heavy Industries
Greek shipping company Centrofin Management, led by Dimitris Procopiou, has made a significant move by ordering two new container ships from a private Chinese shipbuilder. Shipbrokers and market sources have confirmed that Centrofin Management has inked a deal with Hengli Heavy Industries for the construction of two 6,000 TEU container ships, set for delivery in 2028. This order marks the company’s official entry into the container ship market.
Expanding Collaboration and Growing Orderbook
The collaboration between Centrofin Management and Hengli Heavy Industries dates back to 2024 when they placed an order for six 82,000 DWT Kamsarmax bulk carriers. Following this, an additional two vessels of the same type were ordered in 2025, all scheduled for delivery in 2026. With the latest container ship project, the two parties now have a combined orderbook of ten new vessels spanning across two ship types.
Industry Trends and Market Dynamics
Hengli Heavy Industries’ 6,000 TEU-class container ships have gained popularity among various shipowners, with notable companies like Zhonggu Logistics, CMA CGM, Minerva Marine, and Eastern Pacific Shipping opting for vessels from this category. Despite the record-high volume of orders in the container ship market, interest in newbuilds remains robust. Shipbroker MB Shipbrokers highlighted a strong surge in ordering interest across various vessel segments, signaling a positive trend in the industry.
Centrofin Management, currently active in the tanker and bulk carrier markets, boasts a fleet of 56 vessels, including those under construction. The company’s fleet comprises 30 tankers and 26 bulk carriers, with a total of 12 new vessels in the pipeline. This includes four Suezmax oil tankers and Kamsarmax bulk carriers scheduled for delivery by Samsung Heavy Industries and Hengli Heavy Industries, respectively. Additionally, Centrofin Management is reportedly linked to an order for six 114,000 DWT LR2 tankers from Titan Wind Energy, further expanding its fleet size.
As Centrofin Management continues to expand its fleet, the addition of the two container ships and six LR2 tankers could potentially increase the company’s fleet to a total of 64 ships, solidifying its presence in the maritime industry.
