Steamers Maritime Orders Two Ships

Steamers Maritime Holdings Limited has ordered two new containerships and is buying a third vessel. The two 360-TEU vessels on order are being built by Wuhu Shipyard in China's Anjui Province near Nanjing.

The first ship is scheduled to be delivered in the first quarter of 1997, and the other in the second quarter. The reported contract value for each is approximately $10 million. With a deadweight of 5,000 tons and a service speed of around 15 knots, each ship will be equipped with two 40-ton cranes and 50 reefer points, and will be classified by Germanischer Lloyd. "We intend to charter these ships to feeder operations around the world. There is particularly strong demand for this type of vessel for trade in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Asian regions," said C.N. Watson, executive chairman of Steamers. Elaborating on the specifications of the newbuildings, Mr. Watson said, "Their capacity and size are especially ideal for the smaller ports in the Asia-Pacific region. With their fast speed, these vessels can achieve a quick turnaround time." In addition to these two newbuildings, Steamers will purchase five-year-old containership Wotan. The vessel has been chartered by Steamers subsidiary Straits Shipping for the Singapore-Haiphong trade since September 1995. This 270-TEU vessel has a dwt of 3,500 tons, a service speed of 13 knots, two units of 35-ton cranes and 30 reefer points. The vessel, to be renamed Straits Joy, will continue to trade on the Singapore- Haiphong route for Straits Shipping.