Zhonggu Logistics upsizes boxship newbuilds and lines up ship sales

Zhonggu Logistics Chinese containership player Zhonggu Logistics has upsized part of its boxship newbuilding programme while moving to offload three vessels. The Shanghai-listed company said a planned series of eight 6,000 teu ships has been revised to 6,300 teu following finalisation of the vessel design. The ships are the eight larger units Zhonggu lined up earlier this year. In January, the company signed for four firm 6,000 teu ships plus two options at Hengli Heavy Industries , with the total construction cost capped at about $500m, excluding tax, and delivery scheduled from 2028. In February, Zhonggu added two more 6,000 teu ships at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard. The revised newbuilding programme now covers 10 1,800 teu ships and eight 6,300 teu ships, with total investment unchanged at RMB6.86bn ($1bn). Zhonggu plans to use RMB3bn from a convertible bond issue to support the vessel acquisition plan. The company said the change does not alter the ship type or the amount of proceeds to be used from the planned bond issue. Zhonggu is also preparing to sell three ships as part of the same fleet renewal push. The company plans to dispose of the 2023-built postpanamax Zhong Gu Cheng Du and a pair of general cargo ships, Zhong Gu 20 and Zhong Gu 21 , built in 2015 and 2014, respectively, through public auction, listing or negotiated sale, with the vessels expected to fetch no less than RMB570m ($84m). Fleet data from Alphaliner shows Zhonggu Logistics currently operates 64 ships, with 18 vessels on order. Splash reported in April that Zhonggu had backed the restart of Wuhan Qingshan Shipyard with a 10-ship order for 1,800 teu feeders. The Shanghai-listed carrier said at the time it would invest up to $392m in the series, with deliveries scheduled between 2028 and 2029. Adis Ajdin Adis is an experienced news reporter with a background in finance, media and education. He has written across the spectrum of offshore energy and ocean industries for many years and is a member of International Federation of Journalists. Previously he had written for Navingo media group titles including Offshore Energy, Subsea World News and Marine Energy. Read Next June 26, 2026 Hormuz reopening plans thrown into doubt after Evergreen boxship attack June 26, 2026 Shipyards compete with AI for engines June 26, 2026 Splash Wrap: Hormuz hope dashed June 26, 2026 A Career in Shipping: The truth about getting a job in maritime June 25, 2026 Global Ship Lease confirms expanded newbuild programme