Booking acceptance to and from Odesa, Ukraine, and Novorossiysk, Russia, is to be suspended with immediate effect until further notice.

Ocean Network Express Pte. Ltd. has signed shipbuilding contracts with both Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. and Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd. to construct 5 vessels each, adding a total of ten modern Very Large Container Ships (VLCS) to ONE’s fleet.

Under the contracts, Hyundai and Nihon will each build five VLCS with a nominal capacity of more than 13,700 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

The vessels are expected to be delivered in 2025.

In a statement, ONE said that the investment embodied its midstream strategy, announced in March, which is ‘to safeguard a sustainable supply chain for the future and underscore ONE’s green strategy and decarbonization plan’.

To cut down navigational impacts on the environment, the box ships will incorporate the ‘highest’ efficiency standards and advanced technology.

The shipping company further noted that the ships are planning for the ‘ready notation’ or ‘AiP (Approval in Principle) of Ammonia and Methanol as fuel, carbon capture, and storage.

This is expected to help the company widen the exploration of decarbonization solutions and long-term alternative fuels.

To reach the 2050 carbon neutrality target, the company intends to invest in greener assets and technologies as well as work with industry stakeholders.

Earlier in the year, ONE canceled bookings to and from Russia in the wake of the country’s military attack on Ukraine.

The investment plan of ONE also includes the extension of the company’s container fleet, the development of terminals, and the implementation of new technologies. It is worth noting that all ONE’s investments are in line with the company’s key target: to become a leader in maritime decarbonization and carbon-neutral by 2050.