Yang Ming has entered into charter agreements for a total of ten new containerships, which will emit less carbon and use fuel oil containing limited sulfur.
Shoei Kisen Kaisha will produce five 11,000 TEU containerships for the company, while Costamere will also build five 12,000 TEU containerships.
All are expected to be delivered between the second quarter of 2020 and the third quarter of 2021.
The design of these vessels complies with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulations, which will come into force by 2020. Yang Ming’s renewed fleet will be able to hold more containers, achieved by boosting levels of navigational visibility, while also increasing the allowed height of container stacks on deck.
Dr Bryan Comer discusses the risks of heavy fuel oil, in a recent Port Technology technical paper
In addition to this, the ships’ dimensions will make them compatible with all main calling ports worldwide, as well as allowing them to pass through the new Panama Canal.
Currently, Yang Ming’s entire fleet amounts to 106 containerships with a capacity above 600,000 TEU.
However, its ongoing fleet renewal program, which replaces older vessels once charter agreements have expired, is aiming to decrease operating costs and mitigate the environmental damage caused by transportation.
It is hoped that the new ships will help Yang Ming to become more competitive in the container shipping sector, especially while the public and industry consciousness of environmental concerns is growing so rapidly.
