Asia/Pacific News
Evergreen to Charter 11 Bunker-Saving 18,000 TEU Box Ships
Taiwan's Evergreen Group Wedensday said it is planning to charter 11 new, bunker saving ultra-large container ships (ULCSs), local media reports.
The new 18,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) box ships will be designed to operate at lower speeds, reducing fuel consumption, and will be operated by Evergreen Marine Corp. and its subsidiaries (Evergreen Marine).
"The group has taken this investment decision to introduce 18,000-TEU vessels based on market demand and the capacity requirement for joint service," said Evergreen Group.
According to the report, the new ships' main engines feature a longer stroke than those being replaced and will burn an average of 7 percent less bunkers than traditional engines.
The new ULCSs will be delivered by Japanese shipowner Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd. between 2018 and 2019 under a charter agreement.
The move is said to be part of a fleet renewal plan currently underway at Evergreen Marine.
It is understood that Evergreen Group is in the midst of taking receipt of 30 new, owned 8,500 TEU ships, and will have chartered another 25 box carriers between 8,800 TEU and 14,000 TEU by the end of 2017.
Earlier this month, Drewry said that while the rationale for ordering bigger, more fuel efficient ships was entirely sound, it did present the industry with a huge problem in how to absorb the extra capacity.
