News / Five major shipyards compete to build five 13,000 teu ships for ONE

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Major shipbuilders in China, South Korea and Japan have told The Loadstar they will bid to construct five 13,000 teu ships for ONE.

Japan’s Imabari Shipbuilding, South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, China’s Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding and Jiangnan Shipyard said they had been shortlisted to offer pricing, designs and delivery dates for the ships.

Shipbuilding sources say ONE is asking for scrubber-installed, dual-fuel vessels that can operate on fuel oil and LNG.

A ONE spokesperson told The Loadstar it would not comment on newbuilding plans. However, the carrier recorded a net profit of $6.76bn in the six months ended 30 September and expects total earnings of $12bn for its financial year ending 31 March. Newbuild prices for such vessels are estimated to be around $160m each.

It is believed to be the first time that ONE, formed in 2018 after merging the container shipping operations of MOL, NYK and K Line, is commissioning newbuildings directly. In December 2020, ONE sealed a 15-year charter deal with Japanese tonnage provider Shoei Kisen Kaisha for six ships being built at sister yard Imabari and compatriot yard Japan Marine United Corporation. The ships having a capacity exceeding 24,000 teu, will be the largest container vessels ever built.

For the four latest orders, the busy shipbuilders are expected to offer ONE delivery dates from late 2024 onwards.