Iranian shipowner Kamal & Adel has placed an order for a 1,710 TEU container vessel in China, marking its first entry into the container shipping market.

According to industry reports, Kamal & Adel, headquartered in Tehran, Iran, has signed a shipbuilding contract with Chizhou Tianyu Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. for the construction of one 1,710 TEU feeder container ship.

The vessel is valued at approximately USD 31.5 million and is scheduled for delivery in 2028.

Previously focused mainly on tugboats and port service vessels, Kamal & Adel will enter a new shipping segment through this order. The 1,710 TEU feeder vessel is a popular ship type for regional routes, particularly in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean.

Industry observers believe the new vessel is likely to be deployed on regional routes in the Persian Gulf, although the company has not yet disclosed its operating plan.

The order also highlights the growing recognition of Chinese second-tier shipyards in the feeder container ship market among emerging international shipowners.