Swire Adds Newbuild MV Changsha

As COVID-19 coverage dominates the world’s news cycle, it’s a pleasure to report on a new ship delivery, Swire Shipping’s first 2400TEU newbuild vessel, MV Changsha. The vessel was built at CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., in China, and will be deployed on Swire Shipping’s South East Asia to Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands service.

MV Changsha is part of a wider order book of eight feeder container vessels (four 2,400 TEU vessels and four 2,750 TEU vessels) scheduled for delivery in 2020, purpose designed to accommodate the needs of the region’s customers.

To that end, the modern-eco, 30,400 DWT/2,400 TEU ships were designed and built with key features and benefits including:

• High capacity (1,860 TEU @ 14t) at dimensions of 186m (LOA), 32.2m (Breadth) and 10.5m (draft) to offer customers the lowest slot costs in the key Pacific import markets.
• 3 x 45 mt up-rated cranes with the ability to complete 90t tandem lifts, providing flexibility for all cargo requirements.
• Non-containerized cargo capability, with 75 t swl stoppers, lashing eyes and tank top strengthening to 20t/w. m. in holds three and four.
• Pontoon, weather tight hatch covers reinforced to uniform load of 5 t/sq. m. to enable heavy loads on deck.
• An innovative hull form design providing greater fuel efficiency with best-in-class fuel consumptions.

These vessels are part Swire's fleet renewal program which began in 2015. Over the course of this renewal program, 14 vessels will have been disposed of in total, including 11 sustainably recycled at approved ship recycling facilities under the Hong Kong Convention, and the remaining three sold for onward trading. The eight modern eco-designed newbuild container vessels will join a fleet that includes eight 31,000 DWT/2,118 TEU multipurpose vessels (“S Class”)  and four 22,000 DWT/1,627 TEU multipurpose vessels (“Chief Class”) delivered between 2013 and 2015.

Keeping Supply Chains Open
“Like many other companies, we are very concerned about the global situation over COVID-19. However, we are also cognizant that vital supply chains must remain open with as little disruption as possible,” said Jeremy Sutton, General Manager, Swire Shipping. “The economies and livelihoods of the Pacific region are heavily reliant on seaborne trade. The addition of MV Changsha and the remaining newbuilding vessels will enable us to achieve this and show our long-term commitment to our customers and the region.”