Zhonggu Shipping Group has ordered two 14,000 teu containerships from Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, marking a significant step up in vessel size as the Shanghai-based operator expands its newbuilding activity. Both ships will be conventionally powered, but the company did not disclose the contract value or delivery schedule. According to TrustedDocks orderbook data, the order was placed on 16 Sep 2026 and reported the following day. The vessels will measure 335 metres in length, 51 metres in width and have a draught of 30.2 metres, and will be fitted with a spherical-twist rudder, energy-saving ducts, and variable-frequency technology for engine room fans and seawater cooling pumps. The order adds another large containership series to Hudong-Zhonghua's expanding backlog. In the previous month, China United Lines, another Chinese operator, placed an order for two conventionally fuelled 14,000 teu vessels at the same yard, following earlier work the shipbuilder carried out for German tonnage provider Peter Dohle. Zhonggu Shipping Group is the controlling shareholder of Shanghai-listed Zhonggu Logistics, holding a 57.46% stake. The listed carrier has been steadily building out its own fleet programme through 2026. In June, it revised the capacity of eight previously ordered containerships from 6,000 teu to 6,300 teu following a design update. That programme, combined with 10 smaller 1,800 teu vessels ordered earlier in the year, represents a total investment of RMB6.86bn, equivalent to $1bn. To help finance the ships, the company has earmarked RMB3bn from a planned convertible bond issue. Earlier contracts under this programme were split among Hengli Heavy Industries, China Merchants Jinling Shipyard and Wuhan Qingshan Shipyard. The new Hudong-Zhonghua order represents a further escalation in vessel scale for the group.