The first Japan-built container ship exceeding the 20,000 TEUs to carry the Panamanian flag was christened on 25 October in the Saijo shipyard, Imabari.
The 20,170 TEU ‘MOL TRUTH’, which is 400 meters in length, 58 meters in width and 33 meters in height, is the first container ship of the 20,000 TEU class deployed for trade between Asia and Europe. It will be operated by Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), mainly serving the cargo of Toyota Corporation.
“This is a historic moment, since we are celebrating the 40 years of brotherhood between the cities of Imabari and Panama, we are also registering the first Panamanian flag ship of 20,000 containers from Japan, in the context of the 100 years of Ship Registration of Panama, which represents the tradition and maritime experience of our country, “said the Minister for Maritime Affairs, Jorge Barakat Pitty.
The Ultra Large Container Ship (ULCS) is eco-friendly, designed with some improvements in propulsion, seeking to be more efficient, reducing CO2 emissions up to 50% compared to other container ships. It has the option of converting into LNG, in line with the IMO sulphur limit regulation coming into force in 2020.
“We wish to thank once again the Japanese maritime community for their confidence and support for the Panamanian flag, since Panama has been, is and will continue to be a reliable partner of Japan, both in good times and in difficult times,” Panama Maritime Authority noted.
