Hong Kong-based container shipping company Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) is to set a new world record for its recent order with Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for six containerships, with each ship measuring up to 21,000 TEU, the largest ever container ship to date.
PTI previously reported that the order would cost the shipping line around US$950m and would be financed by external investors.
In gCaptain, SHI were quoted as saying: “It is expected that orders for ultra-large container ships will continue, as global shipping alliances are competing to expand their fleets. We will receive additional orders by offering optimized ship solutions and a range of eco technologies.”
CMA CGM placed an initial order for three 20,000 TEU ships to increase its ship capacity, before placing a follow-up order for three more in order to take advantage of its recent profit increase.
In other news, the first LNG containership is to be launched in April, 2015 at the General Dynamics Nassco shipyard in San Diego, US.
