China’s Minsheng Financial Leasing (Minsheng FL) has ordered a series of 16,000-teu containerships against charters from a liner operator — becoming the latest outfit to jump aboard the newbuilding bandwagon for neo-panamax boxships.

Mingsheng FL confirmed it has booked six newbuildings at China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC)-controlled Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co (DSIC).

It did not disclose the vessel prices but shipbuilding experts put the cost of the ships at between $120m and $125m each.