News / Cosmoship and TS Lines bolster capacity with newbuilding orders

Photo: TS Lines

More feeder vessel newbuildings have been disclosed in the latest week, led by Greek tonnage provider Cosmoship Management, which commissioned eight 1,800 teu ships at Huanghai Shipbuilding.

Clarksons’ data shows that the ships, commissioned for around $32m each, will be delivered between 2027 and 2028.

Alphaliner suggests that Cosmoship has already been able to forward-fix some of its newbuildings to a charterer, although this could not be confirmed. Cosmoship’s current charterers include KMTC Line and CNC Line

Huanghai is branding itself as a builder of Bangkokmax vessels of around 1,800 teu. The shipbuilder already has a dozen orders from SITC Shipholding, seven from HMM, four from Dutch reefer specialist Seatrade Groningen and, most recently, Euroseas, which contracted two high-reefer variants.

Hong Kong-based TS Lines, which announced a 10% year-on-year drop in its 2025 net profit to $328.9m, unveiled orders for four 2,900 teu ships at Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding.

These are options for additional vessels after an initial order for two similar ships at the same shipyard last November. The ships are priced at $42.15m each. The latest orders would be delivered by May 2029, while the ships commissioned last November would be ready between June and August 2028.

TS Lines chair Chen Teh-sheng said the company wants to raise the number of owned ships in its fleet. Currently, TS Lines, the 20^th largest shipping line, owns 35 of the 41 ships in its fleet, which totals 107,847 teu. Another 17 ships, totalling 105,708 teu, are on order. This means TS Lines’ orderbook equates to nearly its entire active fleet.

Mr Chen said: “The group’s strategy includes maintaining a balanced mix of owned and chartered-in vessels, with a focus on increasing the proportion of owned vessels to achieve long-term cost advantages. Owned vessels are not subject to fluctuations in charter rates or prescribed lease terms and generally result in lower unit operating costs. The new vessels, being of modern design and specification, are expected to be more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly, thereby reducing operating costs and supporting compliance with increasingly stringent environmental regulations.”

Chinese container barge operator and forwarder Higo Shipping has ordered another 1,052 teu LNG-powered vessel, from Hunan Jinhang Shipbuilding, for about $8.1m. This follows an initial order last August.

Last July, Higo and Hunan Jinhang signed a cooperation agreement for the construction of five LNG-powered ships over the next three years.

Higo said in a Beijing Stock Exchange filing that the LNG-powered ships have 20%-30% lower carbon emissions and a 90% reduction in particulate matter emissions.

Higo said: “We’re actively responding to the national policy encouraging the upgrading of ships to new and clean energy sources, aligning with green shipping development.”