The final signature for six new generation eco-design container ships with a total value of $360 million was made by ARKAS Board Chairman Lucien Arkas.
With this signature, the number of ships in ARKAS’s fleet will increase to 55 and its TEU capacity to 112,230.
Arkas, which signed a long-term loan agreement with CIMC Financial Leasing for $288 million of the total investment amount, will both expand and rejuvenate its fleet. For the ships planned to be delivered in 2028, a cooperation agreement was signed between Arkas, China Shipbuilding Trading Co and CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipyard executives and CIMC Financial Leasing officials at the Arkas Holding building in Izmir.
Arkas, which has the largest container ship fleet in Turkey and is among the top 30 in the World Ship Owners ranking, signed for the purchase of 6 new ships at a cost of 360 million dollars.
The ships, each with a capacity of 4,300 TEU, to be purchased from CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipyard, which stands out with its production quality in China, will be the highest capacity ships in the Arkas fleet. With this investment, Arkas will increase the number of ships in its container ship fleet to 55 and its capacity to 112,230 TEU, while rejuvenating and expanding its fleet.
Arkas Holding Board Chairman Lucien Arkas, Arkas Holding Board Vice Chairman Bernard Arkas and Diane Arkas Göçmez, Arkas Maritime Fleet Group Vice President İbrahim Kontaytekin, General Manager Haluk İribaş, Arkas Holding Accounting and Financial Planning Vice President Cenk Sivrioğlu, Arkas Holding CIFO Perla Karmona, China Shipbuilding Trading Co and CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipyard managers, CIMC Financial Leasing and MB Shipbrokers officials attended the signing ceremony held in Izmir for the investment.
More cargo will be carried with less fuel
Speaking at the ceremony, Arkas Holding Board Chairman Lucien Arkas said, “We continue our investments to contribute to Turkey’s foreign trade and build trade bridges with the world. The Chinese shipbuilding industry has proven itself in the world with the high-quality ships they produce. We were very pleased with the ships we previously purchased from China. Now, for the first time in Turkey, we are ordering an eco-design ship from China. While making these investments, we, as Arkas, focused on sustainability, which is of critical importance at this point today. While we have the opportunity to carry more cargo with less fuel with these environmentally friendly ships, we will get a little closer to our sustainability goal. This is a step towards both rejuvenating and expanding our fleet. Today, I would like to thank CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipyard, the most important player in China’s shipbuilding industry and distinguished by its superior production quality, and CIMC Financial Leasing, who signed this important agreement with us. This signature is an indication of the trust in Turkey and Arkas,” he said.
Our cooperation will continue to increase
On the shipyard side, Wenchong Yard Delegation Deputy General Manager Han Jianbing said, “As part of our job, we come together with many companies of different scales, different geographies and different visions. However, the cooperation we have realized here today has been one of the ones we have enjoyed and loved the most. It is truly very valuable for more than two companies like us to come together and sign such a big agreement. With the relationships we establish through collaborations like this, even our new friends become “old friends” for us. I have full confidence that this collaboration will not end here, but will continue to grow. I would like to thank everyone who contributed,” he said.
To be delivered in 2028
CIMC Financial Leasing Business Department General Manager Skye Zhu Tianwei said, “It was a great honor for us to meet Lucien Arkas in person earlier this year and get to know one of the world’s major shipowners. We were very impressed by Arkas’ business acumen and the company’s deep-rooted history. We would like to express our gratitude for their warm welcome and kind hospitality. This first collaboration between Arkas and CIMC is one of the right decisions we have made this year. I believe that we will sign collaborations not only this time, but also in the future.”
Following the signing ceremony, the delegation visited Arkas Carpet Collection and Arkas Sanat Urla in Arkas Sanat Bornova, located in Arkas Mattheys Mansion, accompanied by Arkas Holding Chairman Lucien Arkas.
The ships, which will be delivered in February, April, June, August, October and December 2028, will be operated by Arkas Line. Built as eco-designed new generation ships, the ships will support Arkas’ sustainability strategy by reducing carbon emissions thanks to their fuel performance measurement system as well as their capacity.
