Zodiac Maritime has placed a significant newbuilding order for eight 6,400 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) containerships at China's Hengli Heavy Industry, according to shipbrokers, extending a boxship newbuilding drive now worth more than $1.6 billion. The vessels are priced at around $80 million each, bringing the total investment to $640 million, with deliveries scheduled across 2028 and 2029.
Newbuilding Drive Details
The London-based owner, controlled by Eyal Ofer, has not publicly confirmed the deal, and no charter arrangements have emerged, brokers reported. The order gives Zodiac relatively early delivery positions at one of China's fastest-growing yards. Hengli said its overall delivery schedule now stretches into 2030 after taking over 200 ship orders during the first half of this year, including more than 50 containerships.
The latest series would take Zodiac's reported containership contracting since the start of 2025 to 19 vessels with a combined capacity of around 135,200 TEU.
Previous Orders and Specifications
Zodiac returned to the containership newbuilding market in October 2025 with five conventionally fuelled 6,000 TEU ships at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard. Those vessels were priced between $78 million and $79 million each and are due from 2028. In December, the owner followed with six 9,000 TEU ships at Jiangsu New Hantong Ship Heavy Industry, costing more than $100 million each and scheduled to start delivering in the second half of 2028. Zodiac has since referred to the six-ship contract on its own website.
All three reported series retain conventional propulsion, although the latest Hengli ships will be fitted with scrubbers. By contrast, Zodiac's earlier 15,600 TEU newbuilding programme in South Korea comprised 13 LNG dual-fuel ships, which were placed on long-term employment with MSC.
| Series | Yard | Vessel Size (TEU) | Number of Vessels | Price per Vessel | Delivery Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hengli order | Hengli Heavy Industry | 6,400 | 8 | ~$80M | 2028-2029 |
| China Merchants Jinling order | China Merchants Jinling | 6,000 | 5 | $78M-$79M | From 2028 |
| Jiangsu New Hantong order | Jiangsu New Hantong Ship Heavy Industry | 9,000 | 6 | >$100M | H2 2028 |
| South Korean programme | South Korean yards (undisclosed) | 15,600 | 13 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed (LNG dual-fuel, chartered to MSC) |
Broader Fleet and Sector Expansion
Zodiac operates a diversified fleet of around 200 ships spanning containers, dry bulk, tankers, gas carriers and vehicle carriers. The latest boxship deal adds to a broad newbuilding drive across several sectors. Since the start of the year, Zodiac has ordered four VLCCs (very large crude carriers) at Jiangsu New Hantong and another Suezmax at Samsung Heavy Industries' Vietnam yard, followed by four more Suezmaxes at Hantong that lifted its orderbook in the segment to nine ships. The owner has also moved into ammonia shipping with three firm VLACs (very large ammonia carriers) at Hanwha Ocean and options for two more.
Implications for Logistics Professionals
For freight forwarders and ocean carriers, Zodiac's eight 6,400 TEU vessels – along with its other containership orders – will add capacity to the global fleet starting in 2028. While no specific trade routes have been disclosed, 6,400 TEU ships are typically deployed on regional or secondary routes, including intra-Asia, Africa, or Latin America, potentially easing capacity constraints on those lanes. The vessels will be fitted with scrubbers, enabling compliance with upcoming sulphur emission regulations without relying on low-sulphur fuel. The fact that no charter arrangements have been reported suggests Zodiac may operate these vessels on its own account or wait to secure long-term employment closer to delivery. The order also underscores the rapid expansion of Hengli Heavy Industry, which now has a delivery book stretching into 2030, offering early delivery slots compared to many other yards.
Sources:
