The decision comes as Greece-based companies continue their surge of investments in boxships.
All the fresh orders have been for wide-beam vessels of about 4800 teu capacity, perceived as a vessel in demand by liner operators eager to build share in trades such as South America and Africa where shallower draft ports are part of the reckoning.
Thenamaris Ships Management has placed contracts for two 4800teu wide-beam vessels at Zhejiang Ouhua Shipbuilding, finally clinching a first boxship newbuilding project after focusing its sights on the container market last year.
The Dinos Martinos-led company, which has a substantial fleet of tankers and bulk carriers, was linked with several projects last year and signed letters of intent for two 2500 teu vessels, with a potential optional additional pair, with Jiangsu Yangzijiang Shipbuilding. However in confirming contracts have now been finalised with the Ouhua yard, a company executive said the earlier deal could not be firmed up.
"In the end it was not possible to agree various technical upgrades which we wanted," he said.
The two 4800 teu newbuilds are scheduled for delivery in 2013 and are believed to be costing about $57m each. In a further success for Zheijiang Ouhua's wide-beam design, two sister vessels have just been ordered by Evalend Shipping, making its first move in the container shipping sector.
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