Greek shipping magnate George Economou has further solidified his return to the container sector with the acquisition of the 5,500 teu ZIM Yangtze, a modern containership currently on long-term charter to Israeli carrier ZIM. The vessel, formerly owned by Germany’s Elbdeich Reederei, was sold to Economou’s TMS Group for an undisclosed sum.
The 5,500 teu ZIM Yangtze was delivered in 2024 by South Korea’s HJ Shipbuilding & Construction Co (HJSC) and is currently operating under a seven-year charter agreement with ZIM, which runs through early 2031, according to Alphaliner.
This latest purchase is part of a broader push by Economou to re-enter the container shipping arena after more than a decade of relative absence. His re-engagement with the sector began in late 2024, when TMS Group placed orders for four 7,900 teu containerships with HJSC in South Korea. This was swiftly followed in early 2025 by a much larger order—seven 11,400 teu LNG dual-fuel vessels from Zhoushan Changhong International Shipyard in China.
All of the newbuilds under construction, as well as the newly acquired ZIM Yangtze, are believed to be backed by long-term charter agreements with ZIM.
