Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has signed a deal for construction of four 20,000 TEU containerships with Korea’s Seoul-based Samsung Heavy Industries. MOL also concluded an MOU for long-term chartering of two 20,000 TEU containerships with Shoei Kisen Kaisha, Ltd of Imabari-shi, Japan, to be built at Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
The six vessels will be launched and delivered in 2017, and will serve the Asia-Europe service.
The 20,000 TEU type is currently the world’s largest among delivered and on order containerships. The newbuilding vessels will adopt various highly advanced energy-saving technologies, which will further reduce fuel consumption and cost, in comparison with 14,000 TEU types that MOL currently operates. The main engines have the specifications which enable Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) use as fuel in the future remodeling.
(Source: Mitsui O.S.K.)
Editor Note: United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) has on order a total of 17 LNG-ready ‘box ships’ including eleven 14,000 TEU vessels and six 18,000 TEU vessels. The delivery of these newbuildings is expected to commence in 2015.
