-
HHI cuts steel on first of five 19,000 TEU mega vessels
Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has this week began building the first of five 19,000 TEU containerships on behalf of China Shipping Container Lines (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd.
The first vessel, due for delivery in November this year, will become the world’s largest containership eclipsing Maersk’s Triple-E series of vessels which boast an 18,340 TEU capacity. South Korea’s HHI, the world’s biggest ship builder, held a steel cutting ceremony to celebrate the landmark occasion on Monday.
The mega vessels, measuring 400 metres in length, 58.6 metres in width and 30.5 metres in depth, will feature a 77,200 bhp electronically-controlled main engine and two EcoBallast seawater treatment systems. The main engine will maximise fuel efficiency, and reduce noise, vibrations, and carbon emissions by automatically controlling fuel consumption to suit sailing speed and sea conditions. The EcoBallast system can treat 3,000 m3 of seawater per hour by filtering and sterilising bacteria and plankton bigger than 50 µm with ultraviolet rays.
The remaining four vessels to be built by HHI are scheduled to be delivered in early 2015.
