6 February 2023 (Lloyd's List) - CMA CGM’s financial investment in newbuildings since 2021 is at $9bn following an order for a new series of methanol-fuelled containerships. The most recent order was confirmed for 12 neo-panamax vessels, contracted at South Korea’s Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries for delivery in 2025 and 2026. They are intended to operate on methanol fuel from their delivery and were priced at $166m each. Excluding long-term chartered tonnage on order, CMA CGM’s orderbook of containership newbuildings stands at 73 ships, with a combined slot capacity of around 730,000 teu, according to data compiled by Lloyd’s List. With the exception of 10 5,500 teu capacity vessels, all of the French container line operator’s newbuilding tonnage will be capable of operating on alternative fuels, including e-methanol or liquefied natural gas, from delivery. While the global orderbook is presently at a record high of almost 30% of the existing fleet in service, there are several further major containership orders in the pipeline. They include potential orders from Evergreen and Yang Ming. Each is expected to place orders for ultra-large, alternative-fuel containerships of between 15,000 teu and 17,000 teu capacity during the first half of 2023. Other newbuilding orders recorded recently included a single suezmax tanker, which has been contracted by Greek shipowner Enterprises Shipping and Trading from South Korea’s Daehan Shipbuilding. The 158,000 dwt vessel is due for delivery during 2025 and, according to brokers, it is priced at $77m. The shipowner is understood to hold an option for one further ship to be declared by the third quarter of this year. Daehan has previous orders in hand for 18 aframax tankers from a variety of Greek shipowners, together with Belgium’s Euronav. However, the Enterprises order is the first for a tanker of suezmax class. Mitsui OSK Lines is reported to be behind a recent order for a pair of 174,000 cu m capacity LNG tankers at Samsung Heavy Industries, which are due for delivery during 2027.