Aker Yards to build Container Vessels for F. Laeisz

Aker Ostsee in Germany, a part of Aker Yards, has been awarded contracts to build two container vessels of the type Aker CS 2700 for Reederei F. Laeisz GmbH in Rostock (Germany). The total contract value is approximately EUR 80 million. The vessels are due for delivery in the first and third quarter of 2007. Discussions are ongoing regarding a potential order for another two vessels of the same type. The equity for the vessels is to be placed via Hamburgische Seehandlung. The Warnemünde site of Aker Ostsee delivered two 2,600 TEU container vessels to F. Laeisz in 1996. "We are pleased that a shipping company with such a high reputation as F. Laeisz again has placed its confidence in us. By that our companies pay an effective contribution to secure employment in our country Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania", Jürgen Kennemann, President of Aker Ostsee and President of the business area Merchant Vessels of the Oslo based Aker Yards Group declared. The vessels of the type Aker CS 2700 are 221.6 m long and 29.8 m wide, with a deadweight of 37.570 t. They have a total container stowage capacity of 2,741 TEU with 400 reefer sockets for FEU. With a main engine (2-stroke) output of 20,580 kW these vessels have a service speed of 22 kn. The order reserve of the combined Aker Ostsee shipyards in Wismar and Rostock-Warnenmünde with a total of appr. 2,250 employees and appr. 100 apprentices (1st March 2005) comprises 30 container vessels with 1,700, 2,500 and 2,700 TEU respectively with last delivery in the third quarter of 2007. The order intake of Aker Ostsee in 2005 has increased to ten vessels.