Taiwan’s Wan Hai Lines continues to expand its newbuilding orderbook with eight 16,000 teu vessels booked in South Korea—the biggest boxships the company has ever ordered. The world’s 11th largest containerline, which had ordered around 40 ships during the box shipping boom of 2021 and 2022, has contracted Samsung Heavy Industries and HD Hyundai Samho to build four vessels each. Earlier in August, Wan Hai set out to expand its fleet with up to 20 methanol dual-fuel vessels. The company inked a letter of intent with compatriot shipbuilder CSBC Corporation for 12 firm and four optional 8,000 teu ships worth between $102.5m and $124m each and also lined up four 8,700 teu dual-fuel newbuilds at HD Hyundai Samho in a deal worth between $454m and $521.6m. Wan Hai said in a stock exchange filing that the new deal for 16,000 teu vessels would cost up to $204m per unit, including upgrades. The price at HD Hyundai Samho starts at $186.5m, while Samsung units come at an initial cost of around $187.6m. The company’s fleet currently stands at 123 ships with a capacity of 530,194 teu, with currently 22 more newbuilds adding some 180,000 teu. Potential delivery dates for the latest series, which will also be methanol dual-fuel ready and expand the carrier’s capacity by 128,000 teu, were not divulged. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1_95_0_1_2'); }); TagsSouth Korea Taiwan