MPC Container Ships has taken another significant step in its fleet modernisation strategy after confirming a newbuilding deal for four additional 4,500 teu boxships.

With delivery from the first half of 2028, the latest order by the Oslo-listed containership tonnage provider has been signed with China’s Jiangsu Hantong Ship Heavy Industry.

The newbuilding contract, valued at $58m per vessel, includes options for two additional ships at the same contract price.

MPCC said all four firm vessels will be deployed on a 10-year time charter, with extension options, to a “leading” global liner operator.

The vessel design was developed jointly with the charterer to ensure an optimal fit with its network requirements, operational efficiency and long-term sustainability goals, added MPCC.

The newbuilding project will be financed through a balanced mix of equity and debt, maintaining flexibility and what MPCC described as a prudent capital structure.

With this latest order, MPCC has now confirmed three separate newbuilding contracts in 2025, all placed with Chinese shipbuilders.

In October, the company signed an order for a pair of 1,600 teu feeder vessels at Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding, with options for two more.

Priced at $33m each, they are scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2027 and are backed by eight-year time charters.

In July, MPCC ordered up to six 4,500 teu wide-beam vessels from Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering, comprising four firm units and two optional vessels.

Deliveries run from the second half of 2027 through to mid-2028, and all four firm ships are secured on three-year time charters.

In March, MPCC took delivery of the second of two advanced methanol dual-fuel containerships from Taizhou Sanfu Shipbuilding.

The 1,279 teu NCL Nordland (IMO: 9981805), together with sister vessel NCL Vestland (IMO: 9981790), which was delivered in late-2024, were ordered in 2022 against a 15-year time charter to Norway’s North Sea Container Line.