Liner giant Evergreen Marine Corp is said to be breaking with tradition by ordering a series of feedership newbuildings in China, worth up to $224m.

Several shipbuilding sources said the Taiwanese company has inked a letter of intent for up to eight 2,500-teu boxships at state-owned Jiangnan Shipyard.

“Evergreen has in the past only ordered newbuildings at shipyards in Japan and Taiwan,” a source said.