Shipowner Idan Ofer has splashed out nearly $1.5bn on a fresh series of dual-fuel containership newbuildings at Hyundai Heavy Industries.

Shipbuilding players familiar with the deal said Ofer-controlled Eastern Pacific Shipping has signed up for 11 LNG-fuelled boxships at the South Korean shipyard group.

Delivery of the 15,000-teu newbuildings is set to begin in 2022.

Eastern Pacific’s latest deal at HHI brings its total orderbook for 15,000-teu vessels at the Ulsan-based shipbuilder and its subsidiaries to 22 in just over two years, and its total investment to almost $3bn.