en.Wedoany.com Reported - Great White Fleet (GWF), the shipping and cold chain division of Chiquita Group, is evaluating an order for five 3,100 TEU container ships from China's Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering Co., Ltd., with the newbuildings to feature high-capacity refrigerated cargo transport capabilities.

GWF currently operates a fleet of 13 container ships with capacities ranging from approximately 1,700 to 2,750 TEU. Seven of these are Bangkokmax-type vessels of around 1,800 TEU, while the remaining six were built in Germany in the 2000s with tonnages exceeding 2,000 TEU. These six vessels comprise three pairs of sister ships: two of 2,751 TEU (Aker CS 2700 design, built 2005), two of 2,492 TEU (SSW Super 25 design, built 2005), and two of 2,100 TEU (Aker CS 2100 design, built 2007). The original reefer plug capacity of these vessels ranges from 400 to 566 units.

Alphaliner notes that while the order has not yet been confirmed, ordering five to six newbuildings would be a rational move for GWF, as its core fleet will gradually reach 25 years of age starting from 2030. Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering has extensive experience in building small to medium-sized container ships, covering vessel types from Bangkokmax to approximately 3,600 TEU, and its orderbook also includes a 4,500 TEU series for MPC and a 6,200 TEU series for GSL. The shipyard also has experience with alternative fuel technologies, having built a series of 3,666 TEU LNG dual-fuel container ships for Seaboard Marine.

In terms of cost, the current valuation for a 3,100 TEU container ship built to standard design in China is approximately US$48 million to US$49 million; while a version equipped with ultra-high reefer capacity could exceed US$53 million per vessel, with expected delivery in 2029.