George Economou looks like he is doubling down on his return to containers.
Splash reported last month on the Greek shipping tycoon’s first container play since quitting the sector in 2020 with Cardiff Marine, one of Economou’s owning vehicles, ordering four 7,900 teu ships at HJ Shipbuilding & Construction (HJSC) in South Korea.
Now Alphaliner is reporting Economou has turned to China for another round of boxship orders, with the owner in advanced talks with Zhoushan Changhong for a 10-ship series of around 11,000 teu.
Containership ordering last year reached about 4.4m teu, breaking the previous record from 2021 when 4.3m teu was ordered. January has seen orders continue at Asian shipyards albeit at a slower pace including China’s Kawa Shipping ordering its first newbuilds, signing for three 4,800 teu ships at Wuhu Shipyard, and German owner Elbdeich Reederei returning to China’s Wenchong yard for up to four more 1,900 teu containership newbuilds.
