Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group has forged a more than $1bn order at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering that will see the shipowner bring its orderbook of 15,000-teu container ships to 20.

The move adds to fleet growth in the red-hot boxship sector that has seen Zodiac cement its position as the third-largest non-operating owner, when newbuildings are included in the fleet count.