Global container shipping company Ocean Network Express Pte. Ltd. has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) for charter of six new Ultra Large Container Ships (ULCS) with capacity greater than 24,000 TEU each, the world’s largest class ever.
ONE, jointly owned by the Japanese shipping companies NYK Line, MOL and K Line, revealed it has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Japanese shipbuilder Shoei Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., subsidiary of Imabari Shipbuilding, for the 15-year long-term charter of the six new ultra large container ships.
The newbuildings are planned to be built by the consortium of Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. and Japan Marine United Corporation. Delivery is expected in 2023/2024.
In addition, the ships are expected to significantly lower carbon emissions from the company’s operations through a hull design that aims to maximize cargo intake and minimize fuel consumption. The vessels will also be equipped with exhaust gas cleaning systems in line with IMO emissions reduction regulations.
This new class of ships will join our core fleet and forms part of our ongoing strategy to introduce large, modern, and fuel-efficient vessels to further strengthen our fleet competitiveness,
…ONE stated.
Currently, the world’s largest ULCS have a maximum capacity of slightly below 24,000 TEU. The Panamanian-flagged HMM Algeciras and its sister ship HMM Oslo with a capacity of 23,964 TEU, as well as the Panamanian-flagged MSC Gülsün with a capacity of 23,756 TEU are currently the world’s three largest container ships by capacity.
Earlier in December, German container shipping company Hapag Lloyd also informed of the singing of $1 billion order with South Korean shipyard Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) for six new vessels that would each have a capacity of more than 23,500 TEU.
