Japan’s Doun Kisen has made a return to the containership newbuilding market, placing an order for two 8,800 teu units at South Korea’s DH Shipbuilding.
The deal, valued at around $233m in total and linked by multiple broking outfits to the Imabari-based diversified shipowner, marks one of the few mid-size boxship orders to be placed in Korea this year. Deliveries are scheduled for the first half of 2028 from the Haenam-based yard, formerly known as Daehan Shipbuilding.
The move extends Doun Kisen’s newbuilding streak after a busy year in the tanker and dry bulk segments. The Okochi family-owned company controls around 150 ships with an average age of six years, according to VesselsValue data.
It is the first time Doun Kisen has ordered containerships since late 2022, when it signed for four smaller vessels — two 1,876 teu and two 2,888 teu units — at Naikai Zosen in Japan.
For DH Shipbuilding, the contract represents a return to the container segment after a three-year absence. The yard has focused mainly on tankers and bulkers since its restructuring. Since entering the market in 2022, the company has delivered two 1,000 teu and four 8,000 teu ships.
Meanwhile, with this latest contract, DH Shipbuilding has secured a total of 10 ships in just one month following orders for a series of suezmax tankers.
“Building upon our solid order base in the tanker segment, we have proven our technological capabilities and reliability in the containership market as well. This contract marks an important milestone in our ship-type diversification strategy,” a DH Shipbuilding official said.
