Evergreen signed a charter deal this week for seven 14,000 TEU vessels aimed at improving the line’s competitiveness while reducing unit costs.

“As this is a fleet renewal programme, the new vessels will be replacements for existing vessels, and will be balanced by redelivery of currently chartered vessels when charter periods expire – thus Evergreen’s operating tonnage will not be increased,” the carrier said in a statement.

According to the UK-based PR News Service, the vessels are owned by Sumitomo, and the charter deal is based on a 10 year charter undertaking by Evergreen at US$46,000 a day per vessel.