TANK operator Avin International SA is for the first time becoming a containership owner, after finalising an agreement to order up to four 1,700-TEU ships to be built by the Zhejiang Ouhua Shipyard, with two firm orders and options to purchase two more containerships.
    A report by Alphaliner said the vessels are intended for the charter market and will be based on the Neptun CV 1700 design, which has also attracted a commitment for up to eight ships from German owner Reederei Nord GmbH.
    Based on Alphaliner's historical records, the containership orderbook-to-fleet ratio has fallen to its lowest level since May 2003.
    It said this is in spite of the April order placed by Evergreen Marine Corp. for 10 x 13,800-TEU vessels to be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries, and this latest order by Avin International, which added 141,400 TEU in total to the orderbook.
    The total orderbook has declined to 3.91 million TEU, down from 4.31 million TEU at the beginning of the year.
    By Alphaliner's calculations the orderbook now stands at 24.7 per cent of the existing containership fleet.

(source:shipping online)