Chinese shipping group Cosco is set to beef up its fleet with an order for nine 20,000-TEU ships as the fever to own mega vessels shows no sign of abating.
Reports said that in addition, Cosco has an option to add four more such vessels to its order.
The container ships reportedly will be built at three different Chinese shipyards and will be deployed on the Asia-Europe trade lane.
The move comes after Maersk Line’s order earlier this month for 11 second-generation Triple-E container vessels. Maersk Line’s vessels will have a capacity of 19,630 TEUs, and the carrier has the option to order six more of the same.
Earlier, in April, CMA CGM placed an order for three 20,000-TEU ships, while Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) ordered six 20,000-TEU container carriers in late March.
Hapag-Lloyd is also said to be considering placing an order for several mega ships.
Maritime consultant Drewry earlier said that despite the current low freight rates, ocean box carriers delivered in the first quarter of this year some of their best profits in a while. But it warned that shipping lines will be hard put to stay in the black as more newbuilds are scheduled to arrive and bunker costs start to rise.
In its report earlier this month, Drewry said that starting June a minimum of 100,000 TEUs per month will be joining the world container ship fleet, with July seeing twice that amount.
Evergreen names newest L-type ship
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Evergreen group has named its latest L-type vessel Ever Lovely, the ninth in the series and the penultimate vessel in the 30-strong series.
The christening ceremony for the new 8,508-TEU vessel took place at the Kaohsiung shipyard of CSBC Corporation in Taiwan.
Ever Lovely, owned by Evergreen Marine (Singapore), is 334.8 meters long and 45.8 meters wide, and has a draft of 14.2 meters. In common with its L-type sister ships, it can cruise at speeds of up to 24.5 knots.
Upon delivery immediately after the event, the vessel joins Evergreen Line’s Far East-South America route and replaces an older unit on the trade.
OOCL’s new SEA-Australia rates
Orient Overseas Container Line, on the other hand, is adjusting its Southeast Asia-Australia rates by August “to maintain a high standard service level and a comprehensive liner network.”
With effect from August 1, freight rates for traffic from Southeast Asia (Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Indian Subcontinent, Myanmar, and Middle East) to Australia will be increased by US$200 per TEU and $400 per FEU for both dry and refrigerated cargo in the base ocean freight.
This increase will apply on top of existing ongoing market rates and will be subject to accessorial surcharges applicable at the time of shipment.
Photo: BriYYZ
