HJ Shipbuilding & Construction has held a naming ceremony at its Yeongdo shipyard in Busan, South Korea, for two 5,500 TEU container ships commissioned by a European shipowner, reports Seoul's BusinessKorea.

The two vessels have been named "Zim Danube" and "Zim Ganges."

These ships represent a significant milestone for HJ Shipbuilding & Construction, as they are part of a series of four eco-friendly container ships ordered following a major shareholder change in August 2021.

The order also marked the company's first foray into such vessels in six years.

Valued at US$270 million, this contract signifies HJ Shipbuilding & Construction's re-entry into the market, with orders already received for a total of ten eco-friendly container ships ranging in capacity from 5,500 to 9,000 TEU.

Furthermore, in February of this year, HJ Shipbuilding & Construction secured a construction contract with HMM for two 9,000 TEU methanol-powered container ships, showcasing the company's competitiveness in the eco-friendly container ship sector.

These methanol-powered ships emit significantly fewer emissions, with a 25 per cent reduction in carbon, 80 per cent less nitrogen oxide, and 99 per cent less sulfur oxide compared to conventional Bunker C oil-powered vessels.

In addition to its achievements in the container ship sector, HJ Shipbuilding & Construction has also secured orders in the specialized ship sector, including high-speed navy landing ships, next-generation speedboats, Dokdo ship performance improvement projects, Joint Logistics Over The Shore items, and 3,000-tonne patrol ships for the coast guard.