Hatsu Completes Latest Phase of Expansion
Hatsu Marine Ltd., has added two more post-Panamax container vessels, the Hatsu Crystal and Hatsu Smile, to its worldwide fleet. The 8,063 TEU C-type vessel Hatsu Crystal has been phased into the Evergreen Group’s CEM service where slots are allocated between Evergreen Marine Corp., Italia Marittima and Hatsu. The CEM service links China with North Europe and the Mediterranean, and is now served by an identical fleet of C-type vessels, four provided by Evergreen Marine and two each from Hatsu and Italia Marittima. The Hatsu Crystal is on long-term charter by Hatsu from the German shipowner Conti Reederei. The 7,024 TEU S-type vessel Hatsu Smile has entered service on Hatsu’s WAE route, a pendulum service linking the West Coast of North America, Asia and North Europe.
Mitsubishi launches Ever Spring
Ever Spring is the fifth in a series of ten S-types being built for the Evergreen Group by Mitsubishi. Three have already been delivered to the Evergreen Group’s UK affiliate Hatsu Marine Ltd and a fourth, Hatsu Smile, is due for delivery at the beginning of June. The honor of cutting the ceremonial rope sending the traditional bottle of champagne against its bow to launch and send Ever Spring on her way down the slipway was given to Mr K C Chang’s wife, Mrs Tseng Chiung-Hui. The Evergreen Group is taking delivery of 18 large post-Panamax containerships over the period 2005 to 2008 – ten S-types and eight 8063TEU C-types – allowing the Group companies to upgrade existing services and phase out older vessels.
Mitsubishi Launches Hatsu Smile
On February 4, 2006, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ Kobe shipyard launched Hatsu Smile, the fourth in a series of ten 7024TEU S-type container vessels that the shipbuilder is constructing for the Evergreen Group. Like the first three ships in the series, Hatsu Smile will be operated by London-headquartered Hatsu Marine Ltd. Hatsu Smile was named by Mr Chang Kuo-Cheng (K C Chang), Vice Group Chairman of Evergreen Group and Chairman of Evergreen Marine Corp. The honour of cutting the ceremonial rope sending the traditional bottle of champagne against its bow to launch and send the vessel on its way down the slipway was given to Mrs Kuo Yeh Chiung-Yu, wife of Captain S Y Kuo who is also Vice Group Chairman for the Evergreen Group.
