Tsakos Shipping Group has returned to the container shipbuilding market and has placed an order for two new ships with a capacity of 3200 TEU at Hengli Heavy Industries in China. These two ships are listed in the new Tsakos fleet in Athens, with their delivery scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2028.
Construction Details and Ship Features
These ships will be equipped with exhaust gas purification systems and alternative marine power technologies, allowing them to connect to the shore power grid while docked. Records in the shipping database indicate that the contracts were signed in September, although the exact timing is still unclear, and these contracts may have been finalized in August or September.
According to market sources, the price of each of these ships is estimated at around $48 million, bringing the total investment for these two ships to approximately $96 million. However, Tsakos and Hengli have not yet disclosed the prices.
Market Analysis and Impacts
The leasing arrangements for these ships are still unclear. Alphaliner sources have noted that Tsakos typically considers forward contracts for new container ships, but it is uncertain whether the Hengli ships have already been leased. This contract marks Tsakos's first return to container shipbuilding since 2022, when the group registered several ships with a capacity of approximately 2800 TEU at HD Hyundai Mipo in South Korea.
Six ships of this type have joined the Tsakos fleet in 2023 and 2024. The current Tsakos fleet includes 10 container ships, comprising these six modern Hyundai Mipo ships and four older units with capacities ranging from 2800 TEU to 4600 TEU.
The recent order also strengthens Tsakos's relationships with Hengli in other areas. In June, it was reported that the group registered two new ships with a capacity of 181,500 DWT at this Chinese yard. These ships are scheduled for delivery in 2028, with their price estimated at around $78 million each. Market sources at that time indicated that this deal might include resale positions rather than direct contracts with the yard.
Currently, the Tsakos fleet includes 112 ships, including the new vessels, and the group's order book contains 23 ships, including tankers, LNG carriers, and dry cargo ships.
Tsakos is not alone in this endeavor, as other companies are also seeking to design 3200 TEU vessels at Hengli. Thenamaris has registered four similar ships at this yard for delivery in 2028. Additionally, the non-operational owner Elbdeich Reederei has reported connections with two 3200 TEU ships at Hengli for delivery in 2028. These two ships are also priced at around $48 million, aligning with market estimates for Tsakos's ships.
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