China’s Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) is poised to tie up $450m-worth of containership newbuildings.

China Cosco Holdings is set to ink five 9,400-teu vessels at the state-owned yard, according to well-placed sources. The Chinese owner made known its newbuilding intentions last month.

Sources say Cosco will be paying between $85m and $90m for each ship with deliveries scheduled from the end of 2016.

Cosco