Seaspan contracts for 27 containership newbuilds

Seaspan Corporation has made a significant comeback in the shipbuilding industry with a substantial order for 27 dual-fuel vessels. This move was highlighted by its parent company, Atlas, in a recent filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The new order includes ships with capacities ranging from 9,000 TEU to 17,000 TEU, showcasing Seaspan’s ambitious expansion plans.

In June, Seaspan commissioned multiple builders to construct these vessels, which include both methanol and LNG dual-fuel options. The order consists of 13 contracts for four 9,000 TEU ships and five 17,000 TEU ships. Seaspan plans to take delivery of these vessels on a bareboat charter basis, with a long-term goal of leasing them to liner companies when they are delivered in 2027 and 2028.

ABS Tackles Real-Time Issues in Container Shipping Landscape with Maritime Experts

Additionally, four more 9,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel ships were ordered and passed on to a customer, along with five 17,000 TEU and five 16,000 TEU vessels booked for charters to an undisclosed liner. Although the specific parties involved in these deals have not been disclosed, industry sources suggest that builders like New Times and Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, along with liners like Maersk and Ocean Network Express (ONE), could be key players in these transactions.

Seaspan, the world’s largest containership lessor, currently operates 176 ships with a total capacity of about 1.82 million TEU. With 41 new ships scheduled for delivery by August 2029, the company is solidifying its leadership in the industry. This renewed interest in container shipbuilding has added approximately 1.5 million TEU to the global order book so far this year, and experts predict that another 0.7 million TEU could be added by the year’s end.