Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 13, Asiatic Lloyd has returned to a preferred Chinese shipyard for two new conventionally fuelled boxships. Brokers report that the privately held German shipping line has ordered a pair of 7,100 TEU vessels at Dalian Shipbuilding, adding to another similar pair ordered six weeks ago. Alphaliner notes that the newly ordered ships, priced at $91 million each, are scheduled for long-term charter to Hapag-Lloyd upon delivery in late 2027 and early 2028.

The company already operates six ships of the SDARI Sealion 7100 design, built in 2023 and 2024 at the same Dalian yard. These additions continue Asiatic Lloyd’s focus on this vessel class, reinforcing its operational consistency and fleet strategy.

Asiatic Lloyd is twin-headquartered in Singapore and Hamburg and is part of the Bunnemann family’s AL Group. The group also maintains operations in tankers, car carriers, and dry bulk shipping, complementing its container shipping activities.

The return to Dalian Shipbuilding underscores the company’s preference for established shipbuilding partners and proven vessel designs, supporting long-term operational planning and fleet standardisation.

With these orders, Asiatic Lloyd is strengthening its position in global container shipping while aligning fleet capacity with projected demand. The scheduled deliveries in 2027–2028 will expand its operational flexibility and reinforce its long-term service agreements with Hapag-Lloyd.

This strategic move reflects the company’s ongoing investment in modern, reliable tonnage to meet market needs while maintaining efficiency across its container shipping operations. The SDARI Sealion 7100 vessels are expected to continue providing robust performance and integration with Asiatic Lloyd’s existing fleet and charter arrangements.

Overall, Asiatic Lloyd’s latest orders at Dalian Shipbuilding highlight the company’s commitment to fleet expansion and operational stability, leveraging proven ship designs and established shipyard relationships to support its container shipping growth strategy in the coming years.