Seaspan Corporation has inked a fresh round of newbuilding orders in China, adding twelve 9,000 teu containerships to its fleet pipeline.

The vessels will be built at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), with deliveries slated to begin in 2028.

The deal is the latest in a series of high-profile orders by the Bing Chen-led tonnage provider at Chinese yards. Over the past four years, Seaspan has emerged as one of the most active private-sector buyers of boxships from state-owned builders.

At Hudong-Zhonghua alone, Seaspan previously booked three 15,500 teu units in 2021, six 13,600 teu ships in 2023, due between 2026 and 2028, and earlier this year signed a letter of intent for six methanol-ready 8,300 TEU ships, reportedly for COSCO Shipping Lines.

Meanwhile, back in April, Seaspan also confirmed Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) as the builder of six 11,400 teu vessels. Those ships are priced at $127m apiece, with delivery starting in 2027.

The world’s largest boxship lessor, with a fleet of over 180 ships in operation and more than 40 newbuildings confirmed, concluded the deal in renminbi rather than US dollars, with ICBC Financial Leasing backing the project. The latest newbuilds, costing more than $100m each, will be delivered as conventionally fuelled, with a dual-fuel ready option.