Singapore-based shipping and logistics giant Neptune Orient Lines has received the delivery of two new vessels, each with a capacity of 10,000 TEUs to make them the largest in the fleet of NOL’s container shipping line APL.
The ships are the first of 32 vessels APL will commission by 2014 “to gain economies of scale, fuel efficiency and competitiveness in an industry moving rapidly to ships of 10,000-TEUs and larger,” NOL said on its website.
“We’re upsizing and upgrading, and when we’re done we’ll have the strongest fleet in our company’s 165-year history,” said Ng Yat Chung, group CEO.
NOL said the new ships will replace older and smaller vessels in its fleet. They are expected to reduce operating costs and cut the environmental impact of container shipping with their greater cargo capacity, improved design and more efficient engines.
“The new vessels will consume less fuel and emit less exhaust than the ships they replace. Because the ships also have greater cargo capacity, they’ll reduce the amount of emissions-per-container carried,” NOL said.
Both vessels will be deployed in the trade between Asia and Europe.
