UK's Graig Group places order for three 2,000-TEU box ships from Jinhai

JINHAI Heavy Industry Co, a Chinese shipbuilder founded in 2004 and based in Zhoushan, has received a newbuilding order for three 2,000-TEU "Marlin 2000 Blue" containerships from UK-based Graig Group, with an option to purchase three more vessels.

The first two feeder vessels with their unusual forward wheel houses and boxes fore and aft the stern'cle, are scheduled for delivery by August and September in 2013, while the third one is slated for delivery by the end of next year.

Experts estimate that the ships are valued at up to US$30 million apiece. Financial support for the newbuilding contract is being provided by Export-Import Bank of China and an unnamed big bank in Europe, reports eshiptrading.com.

The new vessel type has been jointly developed by Graig, Wartsila and DNV and is said to reduce energy consumption by 30 per cent.

The report added that Graig and Jinhai Heavy Industry first signed a letter of intent for twenty-six 2,000-TEU ships in the second quarter of 2011, and then announced the execution of the contract for a "3+3" newbuilding order. However, the contract has only just been finalised owing to the depressed container shipping market.