Samsung Heavy Industries (SH) has signed a US$920 million deal with Evergreen Marine Corporation to build six ultra-large containership for the Taiwanese shipping company.

The ships will feature a length of 400 metres, a width of 61.5 metres and a height measuring 33.2 metres. It will be capable of transporting 23,764 TEU containers at once, exceeding the world's current largest containership with a capacity of 23,756 TEU.

These vessels will be equipped with SHI's latest smart ship technology to ensure safe sail and low fuel consumption expected to reduce fuel use by up to 7%.

“The demand for ultra-large containerships is expected to continue as global ship owners have reduced cost through an economy of scale,” SHI said, noting that the Korean shipbuilder is expected to "keep leading the ultra-large boxhips market."

The latest deal pushed SHI's order book for containerships to 35 vessels, valued at US$5.1 billion so far in 2019, already meeting 65% of SHI's annual target.