Tsakos Shipping and Trading has placed an order for four 2,824teu containerships with HMD on Sep. 19.

The vessels, which will have 600 reefer slots, are all for delivery within 2006.

HMD has been a favored yard of the Tsakos group on the tanker newbuilding size and surrently has a series of 37,000dwt product tankers under construction for the group.

Captain Tsakos suggested last October that a renewal of the group's containership fleet was planned. Tsakos currently controls eight boxships.

HMD has so far received 65 ships worth $1.9bn in newbuilding contracts this year and currently has an order backlog in excess of 100 ships worth $2.88bn.