China's largest shipping company, COSCO, placed an order for 11 19,000 teu container ships at four domestic shipyards.

This is the largest single order for container ships Chinese yards have ever received.

COSCO's listed branch China COSCO stated in its filling to the Shanghai Stock Exchange on 9 September that it has ordered two container ships at Dalian COSCO Khi Ship Engineering (DACKS) for USD270.6 million, four at Nantong COSCO Khi Ship Engineering (NACKS) for USD541.2 million, three at CSSC Shipbuilding for USD418.5 million, and two at CSIC Shipbuilding for USD279 million.

The new ships are expected to improve the shipping capacity of COSCO's container ship fleet, stated the company.

The vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2018.