Zodiac Maritime and Cido Shipping have ordered in total six LNG-powered containerships at two South Korean yards, according to brokers.
Under the first deal, Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Maritime has declared options for four 15,000 TEU dual-fuel vessels at South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, brokers said.
The vessels would cost about $131 million, each, and DSME would deliver them in 2024.
Also, Hong Kong-based Cido Shipping ordered further two LNG-powered vessels at South Korea’s Hyundai Samho Industries, according to Clarksons Platou.
The Korean yard would deliver these 15,000 TEU ships in the first half of 2024, it said.
MSC chartered the vessels?
Two shipbuilding sources told LNG Prime that Switzerland-based shipping line MSC could be the charterer of the two vessels ordered by Cido Shipping.
In addition, one shipbuilding source also said that the Zodiac Maritime ships could go on charter to MSC as well.
We contacted MSC to comment. MSC declined to comment.
MSC is investing heavily in LNG-ready and LNG-powered vessels and has revealed several new deals this year.
The shipping line has earlier this year placed orders for thirteen 16,000 TEU LNG-ready containerships with Dalian Shipbuilding and GSI, both controlled by CSSC.
It also signed a deal in July with GSI for two additional scrubber-fitted LNG-ready vessels.
Besides these LNG-ready vessels, MSC has earlier this year signed a contract with Singapore’s Eastern Pacific Shipping to charter eleven 15,300 TEU LNG-powered containerships.
The Geneva-based giant, which has a fleet of about 600 vessels, previously said it continues to “envisage a range of fuel solutions on the route to a zero-carbon future.”
In that regard, it also joined forces with LNG giant Shell to work on slashing emissions in the shipping industry. This deal also includes LNG as fuel.
