Hong Kong-registered OVP Shipping has signed up for four 4,350 teu containerships at Taizhou Jianxing Heavy Industry as it looks to boost capacity on key Belt and Road trade lanes.

The company’s debut order, with an undisclosed value, will see the first ship deliver in the second quarter of 2027. The remaining three units are due between the second half of 2027 and 2028.

The mid-sized ships will be deployed on China–North Africa, Middle East and Red Sea services, strengthening OVP’s network between China, Southeast Asia, Turkey and North Africa. The company said the units are purpose-built for these lanes, maximising cargo efficiency while meeting the latest environmental rules.

“These 4,350 teu vessels constitute the core capacity for our Belt & Road service upgrade,” said William Wang, managing director of OVP Shipping. “Once operational, they will create a reliable and stable network linking China and Southeast Asia with key ports in the Red Sea, Turkey and North Africa, enabling an efficient, low-carbon, end-to-end logistics solution for our customers.”

OVP, ranked 67th in Alphaliner’s global top 100 carriers, was established in 2020 and has focused on China-related trades, including services into Russia. The company, which has mostly relied on chartered tonnage, has pledged to continue expanding its fleet in partnership with global stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Taizhou Jianxing, formerly Zhejiang Kaihang Shipbuilding Industry, has supplied boxship tonnage to other domestic clients such as Ningbo Ocean Shipping (NBOSCO) and Xiamen Jixiang Shipping and is set to build MPPs for Norden’s project cargo division.