Eastern Pacific Shipping has quietly expanded its already substantial orderbook, placing orders at three Chinese shipyards for seven conventionally fuelled 6,000 TEU containerships and six 7,050 CEU dual-fuel pure car and truck carriers.

The 13 newbuilding contracts were reportedly not all signed recently. Two of the containerships were ordered in late June this year, while the remaining vessels were contracted earlier in the year. The orders are spread across Hengli Heavy Industry, China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing), and China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai).

Regarding the seven additional containerships, shipping industry sources report that EPS has returned to Hengli Heavy Industry to place follow-on orders. This latest order brings the total number of 6,000 TEU vessels EPS has on order at the yard to 15, with the first eight having been contracted late last year. Price details have not been disclosed, but shipbuilding sources estimate the cost at around US$80 million per vessel. Three are scheduled for delivery in 2027, with the remaining 12 to follow progressively through 2028.

Sources further indicate that the seven newbuildings have already been fixed on long-term charters, though the charterers and contract terms have not been disclosed. CMA CGM, Pacific International Lines, and Maersk are all viewed as potential charterers.

EPS also has seven 6,000 TEU containerships under construction at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing). That batch was ordered in 2025 and is scheduled for delivery between 2027 and 2028.

As for the six LNG dual-fuel PCTCs, China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing) and China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai) will each build three vessels, with the unit cost expected to exceed US$100 million. The series will be equipped with shaft generator systems, solar panels, battery packs, and shore power connection facilities, with all vessels scheduled for delivery in 2029.

Similar to the containerships, these PCTCs are understood to have already secured charter contracts, though the charterers and charter periods remain undisclosed.

According to Clarksons, EPS's total newbuilding orderbook has now reached 166 vessels, covering a wide spectrum of vessel types, ranging from MR tankers to VLCCs, Newcastlemax bulk carriers, feeder and large containerships, LNG carriers, Very Large Ammonia Carriers, Very Large Ethane Carriers, medium-sized LPG carriers, and LNG bunkering vessels. VesselsValue estimates the total value of the company's orders at over US$17 billion.