Dole, the US fruit giant, is set to order up to four reefer containership newbuildings worth at least $180m as it seeks to renew its fleet.
Shipbuilding sources said the California-based company has approached shipyards in China for two firm 2,500-teu newbuildings with reefer-plug capacity for 900 40-foot equivalent units.
The deal includes options for two more vessels.
Singapore-listed Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, China State Shipbuilding Corp, Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding and Chengxi Shipyard are among the Chinese shipbuilders that Dole is said to have approached.
