Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has announced an upgrade to its Asia-East Coast South America Service (CSW). From July 2011 through 2012, MOL will launch a total of 10 new 5,600 TEU container ships and replace the currently-operated vessels. The newbuilding ships will adopt a new wide-beam and shallow-draft design, featuring high loading capacity and compatibility with shallow-draft ports in South America, as well as superior fuel efficiency.
Moreover, effective July 2011, MOL will assign an additional ship to CSW with a total of 13 ships, which allows sufficient time and enhance the schedule stability with a revised schedule. Along with the fleet expansion, MOL will begin chartering space to a consortium of Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line), Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line), Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Ltd. (HMM), and Pacific International Line (PIL).