Baozhou Shipping Orders Up to Four Feeder Boxships at Zhejiang Yards

## Baozhou Shipping Expands Feeder Fleet with Zhejiang Newbuilding Order Hong Kong-based Baozhou Shipping is pressing ahead with fleet expansion, booking up to four 2,700 teu feeder container vessels at shipyards in China's Zhejiang province, according to Splash247. Industry sources cited by Splash247 indicate the order comprises two firm vessels and two options, positioning the owner to scale capacity in line with market conditions. The 2,700 teu size class sits firmly within the feeder and intra-regional trade segment, vessels that serve as critical links between major transshipment hubs and secondary ports across Asia and beyond. ### Feeder Demand Drives Newbuilding Activity The order reflects a broader trend of sustained appetite for feeder tonnage at Chinese yards. Zhejiang province has emerged as a significant centre for mid-size container vessel construction, with yards there competing aggressively on price and delivery slots for vessels in the sub-3,000 teu range. Feeder operators have faced a complex market in recent years, navigating fluctuating freight rates, port congestion cascades from larger trade lanes, and growing pressure to order vessels with alternative fuel readiness or compliance with tightening emissions regulations. Whether Baozhou's newbuildings incorporate dual-fuel or other green propulsion features has not been confirmed at this stage. The use of option vessels in the contract structure is a common strategy among shipowners seeking to lock in shipyard capacity and pricing while retaining flexibility on final fleet size depending on how market fundamentals develop ahead of delivery. ### Context Baozhou Shipping's move adds to a pipeline of feeder vessel orders that has been building across the industry as owners seek to renew ageing fleets and capture demand from regional trade growth. Delivery timelines for vessels ordered at Chinese yards currently stretch into 2027 and beyond, reflecting strong order books across multiple vessel segments. The newbuilding activity underscores continued confidence among regional container operators despite broader uncertainty in global trade, including ongoing tariff pressures and shifting cargo flows. *Source: Splash247*