Against the backdrop of rising demand for feeder container ships, Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS), owned by Israeli shipping magnate Idan Ofer, has joined the ranks of prominent shipowners investing in this vessel type.
According to TradeWinds, the company has signed a firm order with a Chinese shipyard for six 1,800 TEU feeder container ships, though it remains unclear whether options are included. If confirmed, this would mark the company’s first feeder vessel order in four years.
Shipbuilding industry sources indicate that the delivery of these newbuilds is scheduled for late 2027 to 2028. They added that EPS has shifted away from its focus on dual-fuel vessels this time, opting instead for conventional fuel power. The company has yet to disclose deployment plans for these ships.
A newbuilding broker noted strong market demand for feeder container ships in the 1,000–6,000 TEU range, driven partly by fleet renewal and speculative orders. According to Clarkson’s June container ship report, nearly 40% of feeder ships below 2,999 TEU are over 15 years old, while new orders stand at just 189 vessels.
This year has seen a surge in small feeder vessel orders, with multiple Greek companies securing contracts: Evangelos Marinakis’ Capital Maritime ordered eight 1,800 TEU and eight 2,800 TEU LNG dual-fuel vessels at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard; Latsco Shipping, owned by the Latsis family, entered the sector for the first time with two 1,900 TEU ships at Huangpu Wenchong; and reports suggest Chios Navigation has tentatively booked up to four 1,800 TEU vessels at China Merchants Industry Jinling Shipyard.
EPS operates a fleet of over 200 vessels, including tankers, container ships, car carriers, bulk carriers, and gas carriers, with container ships accounting for a quarter. Clarksons data shows the company has 12 18,000 TEU and four 8,400 LNG TEU dual-fuel container ships under construction at New Times Shipyard, slated for delivery between 2026 and 2028.
Source: China Ship Survey
