Döhle eyes four 3,700 TEU boxships at Chengxi in unconfirmed deal
German tonnage provider linked to quartet of conventionally powered vessels at CSSC yard, sources say
German shipping company Peter Döhle Schiffahrts is reportedly set to expand its fleet with four new container vessels from China’s Chengxi Shipyard. While neither the Hamburg-based owner nor the shipbuilder has confirmed the deal, industry sources and shipbrokers have identified Döhle as the likely buyer behind a recent contract for the quartet.
The agreement, signed between Chengxi Shipyard and an unnamed European owner, covers four 3,700 TEU vessels. The ships will be built to the MARIC Hercules 3700 design, a conventionally powered model that has already attracted orders elsewhere in China. According to container shipping analyst Alphaliner, the contracting party is believed to be a non-operating owner and tonnage provider, aligning with Döhle’s business profile.
Contract details and vessel specifications
No pricing or delivery dates have been disclosed, though Alphaliner noted that Chengxi may still have available slots for the first vessels as early as 2028. The design has gained traction in the Chinese market, with MPC Container Ships ordering six similar 3,700 TEU ships at Taizhou Sanfu Shipyard last year for approximately $48 million each, scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2029.
MPC Container Ships
If confirmed, the new quartet would mark Döhle’s second order at Chengxi this year. In April, the company booked two 3,198 TEU SDARI Sealion feeders at the same yard for around $48 million each, with the vessels, named Annabella and Anastasia, expected in 2028. Döhle was also reported to hold options for two additional ships of the same design, though any connection to the larger 3,700 TEU order remains unconfirmed.
Döhle’s growing orderbook and Chengxi’s revival
The German group has been actively expanding its orderbook across multiple vessel classes. Earlier this year, it returned to Hudong-Zhonghua for two more 14,000 TEU ships, bringing its total series at the yard to six. It has also ordered four 2,900 TEU feedermaxes at Huangpu Wenchong and has been linked to up to five 8,400 TEU LNG dual-fuel vessels at Guangzhou Shipyard International.
For Chengxi, the potential contract signals a continued return to container shipbuilding after a years-long absence. The yard last delivered containerships in 2021, completing the high-reefer vessels Dole Maya and Dole Aztec, before resuming feeder contracts earlier this year.
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