Chinese lines place large orders

Chinese shipping interests Shipping Container Line (SCL) and China Shipping Container Line (CSCL) went on a spending spree in January, confirming orders for no less than 21 ships at yards in China and Korea.

Shipping Container Line (SCL), the rapidly expanding Chinese shipowner, has placed orders at Korean yards Samsung Heavy Industries and Hyundai Heavy Industries for four 5,500 TEU container ships, and ordered a further eight 4,050 TEU vessels from Samsung. The first 5,500 TEU ship will be delivered next year; the first of the smaller series will follow in 2002.

For its part, CSCL has confirmed an order for eight 4,500 TEU vessels, all of which will be built in Chinese yards, believed to be Dalian New Shipyard and Hudong Shipyard, with deliveries starting in 2002.