A little-known Hong Kong company has emerged as the latest entrant to the feeder containership newbuilding market， with Synelysia Limited ordering four firm 1，900 teu bangkokmax vessels at China’s Xinle Shipyard， according to Alphaliner.

The order includes two separate sets of options that could lift the series to as many as eight ships. Alphaliner said the contracts were signed in late May but had gone largely unnoticed until now.

Pricing and delivery schedules have yet to be disclosed. However， Alphaliner estimates that a standard conventionally powered， gearless bangkokmax vessel from a second-tier Chinese shipyard would cost about $32m per unit， depending on specifications. Deliveries are expected to begin from 2028， although no timetable has been confirmed.

The vessels will be built to a design developed by China’s Ocean Engineering Design and Research Institute (ORIC)， part of the CIMC Group. Measuring 179 m in length with a beam of 28.4 m， the ships will feature standard bangkokmax dimensions and an 11-row configuration.

Synelysia was incorporated only in December， leading Alphaliner to suggest the vessels are likely intended for the charter market rather than in-house liner operations.

For Xinle， the deal represents another step into the containership sector. The yard delivered four 1，170 teu methanol dual-fuel vessels to X-Press Feeders in 2024 before building four smaller ships for Indonesian liner operator Samudera.