Hapag-Lloyd Orders 5 New Containerships

When the expansion of the Panama Canal is complete, liner shipping companies will finally be able to use larger vessels. Hapag-Lloyd has therefore ordered five state-of-the-art ships.

 

Hapag-Lloyd has ordered five modern container ships from the South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI) for its South American trade. Each of the new ships is 333 meters long, 48 meters wide and has capacity for 10,500 standard containers (TEU). In addition, they are equipped with a highly efficient main engine, an optimized hull shape and an innovative lashing and loading system for greater flexibility when loading. Another advantage is that each ship has space for up to 2,100 reefers. Hapag-Lloyd primarily uses the state-of-the-art reefer containers to transport perishable goods such as fruit, vegetables and fish to their destination in a temperature-controlled atmosphere.

 

The shipyard in South Korea will start delivering the new ships as early as November next year. Time is pressing, as the first ship is supposed to be ready in time for the 2017 Latin American reefer season following the planned opening of the expanded Panama Canal next year. The expansion of the some 82-kilometre-long waterway, which links the Atlantic and the Pacific, is one of the largest construction projects in the world at present. Its completion next year will open up a whole host of new transport opportunities for liner shipping companies – they will finally be able to navigate larger vessels through the canal. 

 

“The dimensions of the canal, including its locks and channels, mean that shipping companies are only able to use container ships in the Panamax class with a maximum capacity of 4,900 TEU at present,” explains Axel Lüdeke, Senior Director Network and Cooperations at Hapag-Lloyd. By today’s standards, these are considered to be small ships. “When the expansion is complete, the canal will be able to accommodate large vessels in the post-Panamax class with up to 14,000 TEU.” This will be an important benefit for shipping companies, because the use of larger vessels will reduce transport costs per container.

 

The new order will enable Hapag-Lloyd to maintain its competitiveness. “We are one of the market leaders in South America,” said Axel Lüdeke. “However, without the optimal ships, we wouldn’t have any power in the market.” Including the seven 9,300-TEU newbuildings ordered by CSAV prior to the merger with Hapag-Lloyd – the last two of which will go into operation in summer – Hapag-Lloyd will, however, have an optimal fleet for this important trade, he explains. “We will therefore be able to offer customers a competitive product in the long term.”