Transocean Maritime Agencies said to enter container ship market with newbuild feeders

According to multiple shipping data platforms, the owner has placed an order with CSSC Guangzhou Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding for two 1,900-TEU vessels, scheduled for delivery in 2028. Equasis already lists the ships under construction as Ajax C and Apollo C. The company has been approached for comment.

The reported order marks Transocean Maritime Agencies’ entry into the container vessel sector, as it currently manages a fleet of 15 bulk carriers and tankers. The company also maintains an orderbook of two Ultramax bulk carriers at China’s New Dayang Shipbuilding.

Founded in the early 1960s by Guenther Neunhoeffer, Transocean Maritime Agencies is a privately owned, family controlled shipping company based in Monaco, according to information on its website.

Feeder ordering frenzy

Over recent weeks, Riviera has reported a surge of feeder container orders from both Greek and international owners across Chinese and South Korean shipyards.

Greek shipbroker Intermodal reported on 21 October that in the first half of the month, 16 new feeder vessel orders were placed – continuing the strong momentum from September, when 26 units were contracted, marking the highest monthly level since June 2024.

So far this year, 157 feeder container ships have been ordered globally, pushing the total feeder orderbook to 293 units. As a result, the orderbook-to-fleet ratio has climbed from a record low of 4.6% in March to 7.5% today.

This expansion comes amid an ageing feeder fleet: the average vessel age has reached 15.2 years, the highest on record, while ships over 20 years old now represent about 26% of existing global feeder capacity in TEU terms.

Around 49% of these new contracts have gone to Chinese yards, with Intermodal identifying 10 shipyards – mostly second-tier – as recipients.

“With top-tier shipyards still dominated by orders for ultra-large box ships and LNG carriers, owners seeking delivery slots for smaller units are increasingly turning to these private yards,” Intermodal noted.

Strategic ordering

Intermodal believes this wave of newbuilding activity is strategic rather than speculative. Highlighting the current geopolitical environment, the brokerage suggests that cargo flows could increasingly shift toward alternative gateways and transhipment hubs, particularly across southeast Asia, India and the Mediterranean.

“In such a scenario, the importance of regional connectivity will grow, and feeder services will be at the center of this shift,” analysts explained.