COSCO Shipping Holdings has placed an order for a dozen ultra-large container vessels at Jiangnan Shipyard, marking a significant expansion of its future fleet. The agreement covers the construction of 12 container ships, each with a capacity of around 18,000 TEU and equipped with LNG dual-fuel propulsion. Each vessel is valued at approximately RMB 1.4 billion (about USD 200 million).
According to COSCO Shipping Holdings, the investment supports the company’s long-term strategy to gradually grow its fleet, maintain balanced development, and strengthen its competitive position in the global container shipping market. The newbuildings are aligned with the group’s broader international growth plans.
The vessels are based on Jiangnan Shipyard’s independently developed 18,000 TEU design series known as “Kun” (KUN-18N). LNG will serve as the primary fuel, reflecting a focus on improved environmental performance.
Construction deliveries are scheduled for 2028 and 2029. The ships are designed to meet advanced domestic technical standards, offering strong fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and enhanced energy savings. These features support COSCO’s objectives to lower the carbon footprint of its fleet over the coming operational cycles.
Once delivered, the new ships are expected to operate on major east–west trade lanes. Their deployment is intended to improve service reliability, optimize operating costs on those routes, and further strengthen COSCO’s competitiveness in key global markets.
Jiangnan Shipyard has an established track record with COSCO Shipping Group, having previously delivered multiple container vessels across several size classes, including ships in the 4,700 TEU, 5,100 TEU, and 21,000 TEU segments.
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