On July 1, 2026, CIMC Raffles officially commenced construction of the lead vessel under the 4+2-unit 4,700TEU container ship contract for Alpha Bulkers Shipmanagement Inc at its Longkou Yard, marked by the successful cutting of the first steel plate. As a key milestone following contract signing, the project marks the transition from the design phase to full-scale construction. Independently designed by CIMC ORIC and built by CIMC Raffles Longkou Yard, the vessel series adopts advanced marine technology while ensuring construction cost efficiency, embodying the strong design-manufacturing synergy of CIMC Raffles and laying a solid foundation for high-efficiency execution and high-quality delivery.
Featuring an overall length of 220 meters, a molded breadth of 37.3 meters and a molded depth of 19.6 meters, the 4,700TEU container ship provides capacity for 850 reefer containers and has a design speed of 19 knots. All vessels in the series will be built at Longkou Yard, which is home to China's first dedicated thin-plate production line incorporating hybrid laser welding technology for shipbuilding. Building on its successful track record in delivering LNG dual-fuel PCTCs, the yard is expanding its commercial shipbuilding portfolio beyond PCTCs, further demonstrating CIMC Raffles' capability to execute new vessel programs efficiently.
Affiliated with Greece’s renowned Angelicoussis shipping family, Alpha Bulkers Shipmanagement Inc manages a fleet of more than 90 bulk carriers operating worldwide. This cooperation marks Alpha Bulkers’ maiden entry into the container shipping market and CIMC Raffles’ first container ship construction project, delivering significant strategic value for both parties. Leveraging its strengths in offshore engineering equipment and special-purpose vessel construction, CIMC Raffles continues to expand its presence in the mainstream commercial shipbuilding market. Both parties will build on this partnership to support the global shipping industry's green transition and further strengthen international maritime cooperation.
