THE world's largest containership lessor Seaspan announced that it was adding two containerships to its already large order book of 37 containerships due for delivery by 2024.

Few details were provided on the latest order, only that the lessor had ordered two 12,000 TEU containership newbuilds from an unspecified shipyard, according to The Maritime Executive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The vessels are due for delivery during the fourth quarter of 2022 and will enter long-term charters with a global liner company. The unnamed customer also has a purchase option for the vessels.

"We are very pleased to continue facilitating our customer's growth by providing the most efficient newbuilds," said Bing Chen, chairman, president and CEO of Seaspan. 

The majority of Seaspan's ships operate under long-term, fixed-rate time charters to the world's largest container shipping lines. Its customers include Maersk, MSC, Cosco, CMA CGM, and Hapag-Lloyd, with only Evergreen and HMM among the major operators not chartering vessels from Seaspan.

The company's current fleet includes 129 vessels with a total capacity of over one million TEU. 

With the new orders, Seaspan has a total of 39 containerships with a combined capacity of approximately 600,000 TEU being built.

In 2021, the company also acquired four secondhand box ships. Among the orders Seaspan has disclosed are two 24,000 TEU ultra-large containerships, as well as six 15,000 TEU and five 12.000 TEU vessels, all to be deployed by MSC. The orders also include 10 dual-fuel LNG vessels for Zim and eight box ships to be operated by the ONE alliance.