Splash247: Marfret orders boxship pair at Chinese newcomer yard

Published by Splash247

Marseille-based liner Marfret has signed for two feeder containerships at China’s Hubei Guangji Green Energy Shipbuilding, handing the recently commissioned Yangtze yard another overseas order.

The contract covers two 480 teu ships. Pricing and delivery dates have not been disclosed.

Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI) is behind the design, with the vessels set to class with Bureau Veritas. Propulsion equipment will be supplied by CSSC Power’s Zhenjiang operation, while the hull form has been optimised around lower fuel consumption.

The deal marks Guangji’s fourth international contract this year, following orders from owners in Dubai, Norway and Singapore. The state-backed yard at Wuxue only recently entered commercial production but has quickly built up an export book.

Splash tracked the yard’s move into international shipbuilding in July when Arne Blystad-backed Songa Box booked two 1,300 teu feeders with options for another four. That followed a three-plus-three 930 teu feeder order from Dubai-based Emarat Maritime. Singapore’s Wealth Holdings subsequently signed for two firm 25,000 dwt multipurpose vessels with two separate two-ship options earlier this month.

Guangji is being developed through an RMB3.5bn ($488m) investment at Wuxue on the Yangtze River, with 10 building slipways and planned annual output of up to 1m dwt.

Marfret’s previous newbuilding move saw the French family-owned carrier acquire the third hull in a four-ship Reederei Nord series at Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard for $30m. The 1,900 teu Durande was delivered in March 2025 and joined Marfret’s chartering activities.