RCL orders four 1,900‑TEU boxships from CSSC Huangpu Wenchong

Thailand’s Regional Container Lines (RCL) is reinforcing its feeder fleet with a quartet of new boxships built at CSSC Huangpu Wenchong, the company announced in late August 2026.

Order specifics and delivery outlook

Splash 247 details that the contract covers four vessels each rated at roughly 1,900 twenty‑foot equivalent units (TEU). The ships will be constructed to the yard’s in‑house “swan” design, which brings the total number of orders on Huangpu Wenchong’s docket to 45, as noted by Seatrade Maritime News.

The dimensions are set at 172 m length and 27.5 m beam, with a deadweight tonnage of about 24,000 dwt per vessel. While price and exact delivery windows remain undisclosed, the outlet points out that comparable newbuilds have recently fetched around US$32 million each.

Design features and environmental compliance

The design complies with IMO’s Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) Phase III requirements, a point highlighted by Splash 247. Both shore‑power capability and exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers) will be fitted, aligning the ships with emerging low‑carbon port regulations in Asian trade lanes.

RCL’s broader newbuild programme

Beyond the four feeders, RCL already has eight 4,300‑TEU vessels on order at the same yard. The company’s June‑end accounts list a total of 16 newbuilds scheduled for delivery through 2028, spanning capacities from 4,300 TEU up to nearly 14,000 TEU.

Adding the new quartet contributes another 7,600 TEU to RCL’s pipeline, taking its operating fleet to 45 ships with a combined capacity of roughly 200,216 TEU at the close of June. The carrier, founded in 1979 as a Bangkok‑Singapore feeder service, has progressively moved into larger classes, most recently securing two 14,000‑TEU vessels from Hyundai Heavy Industries.

Strategic context for the regional feeder market

The order underscores RCL’s intent to balance its expanding ultra‑large container ship (ULCS) commitments with a solid feeder backbone. By sourcing mid‑size boxships from a Chinese yard that offers in‑house design and compliance with stringent EEDI standards, the carrier can maintain service reliability on secondary routes while meeting tightening environmental mandates.

What this means for operators

For line operators and charterers, RCL’s move signals a renewed emphasis on modern, eco‑compatible feeder vessels capable of operating in ports that are increasingly mandating shore power and low‑sulphur emissions. The addition of four 1,900‑TEU ships will enhance schedule flexibility on intra‑Asian services, potentially easing capacity constraints on congested hubs such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Manila. Operators should anticipate tighter slot availability on RCL’s feeder schedules and may need to adjust cargo planning to leverage the newly available tonnage once delivery commences.