Taiwan's Evergreen Marine, the fifth largest container fleet in the world, is "cautiously optimistic" about the shipping industry next year, having order 10 to 12 new cellular ships to augment the 20 it recently ordered, according to the Shipping Gazette.
"The ships we ordered in July and September are from Samsung Heavy Industries and will cost US$100 million each,” Evergreen chairman Bronson Hsieh was quoted saying at the World Shipping (China) Summit in Guangzhou.
Total demand for containerships will expand the global fleet up to 4% in 2011, a senior industry executive was quoted telling Reuters. Evergreen, together with other shipping lines, are again profitable, having reported losses last year due because of the downturn.
To be delivered from 2013, the new orders will total 8,000 TEU, expanding the company's capacity 45.5%, or 160,000 TEU, according to London consultants Clarkson Research Services. – Source: Shipping Gazette