NYK Line said it will charter eight 14,000-TEU container ships.

   NYK did not identify who it will charter the new ships from, but said they will be built at the Kure shipyard of Japan Marine United Co. and be delivered between February 2016 and January 2018.

   The new ships “will have improved fuel efficiency and cargo loadability among today's container ships of similar size,” NYK said.

   After delivery, NYK said the ships will be put into service in Asia and Europe as replacements for existing ships, including four 13,000-TEU vessels chartered from OOCL.

American Shipper