Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) recently christened its newest, largest, and most eco-friendly vessel.
The 14,000-TEU (20-foot-equivalent unit) container ship has been officially named APL Temasek, inspired by the old name of Singapore, meaning “Sea Town.”
NOL said APL Temasek’s sister ships will likewise be named after icons of the island-state.
Also the largest container ship to be registered in Singapore, the APL Temasek is the first in a series of 10 vessels of such capacity on order by the Singapore-based shipping and logistics group.
The delivery of the ship follows that of 10 new 10,000-TEU ships which joined the fleet between 2011 and 2012. These newbuildings are part of a US$4-billion fleet-renewal program intended to replace older, less efficient ships that will be either sold or returned to charter owners.
The 14,000-TEU series of ships is designed to improve slot costs, save fuel, and reduce the company’s environmental footprint.
The APL Temasek is currently plying loop 4 of the Asia-Europe trade.
