At approximately $203.5 million per vessel, the cost is significantly higher than that of a traditional vessel of the same size, and highlights the importance of investing in low-impact technologies.

The market for newbuildings of commercial vessels has become more discerning. Shipowners are now investing only in technologies that can guarantee compliance with decarbonisation regulations over the next two decades.

Today's news of the purchase of six 15,900 TEU vessels by the Singaporean company One (Ocean Network Express) confirms this trend, which combines strategic prudence with the need for ecological transition. According to splash247.com, the initial intention was to place a much larger order for 22 vessels valued at over $4 billion with the Korean company HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. The signing of 'only' six vessels suggests that, despite their desire to expand, shipowners are being driven towards more considered solutions by uncertainty over freight rates and the current geopolitical situation.

ONE's green fleet.

Last week, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering announced a contract for six 15,900 TEU dual-fuel LNG-powered containerships. Priced at approximately $203.5 million each, the vessels represent a total investment of $1.22 billion. They will be delivered between November 2028 and September 2029 to join ONE's green fleet.

Related : ONE reported a profit of $338 million in FY2025 on $16.62 billion in revenue.

At approximately $203.5 million per vessel

At approximately $203.5 million per vessel, the cost is significantly higher than that of a traditional vessel of the same size, and highlights the importance of investing in low-impact technologies. Nevertheless, one company has declared its willingness to pay this premium to ensure it is prepared for future environmental regulations.

The agreement

The agreement coincides with an internal transition: Jeremy Nixon, the company's CEO for many years, is set to resign in less than two months. This $1.2 billion order is likely to be one of his final major acts as CEO. Till Ole Barrelet succeeds him as head of the company, which is currently ranked sixth in the world among container carriers (Alphaliner).

About : Ocean Network Express ONE

Ocean Network Express Holdings, Ltd., branded as ONE, is a Japanese container shipping and transportation company that is jointly owned by Japanese shipping lines Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, and K Line. Established as a joint venture in 2017, ONE took over the container shipping operations of its parent companies, giving it a combined fleet capacity of around 1.4 million.

ONE was established in 2016 as a joint venture between Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), and K Line. It was formed as part of a wider consolidation process in the container shipping industry, which was experiencing poor profits and surplus capacity at that time. ONE merged the container shipping divisions of the three companies to form the world's sixth-largest container shipping company. NYK holds a 38% stake in the joint venture, while MOL and K Line each own 31%.

#ONE#HD Korea Shipbuilding #HD Hyundai Heavy Industries # (MOL)#The market#Alphaliner#Jeremy Nixon