ALPHALINER

the weekly container shipping newsletter

2024-23 29 May - 04 June

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Chart of the week

SCFI revenue per nautical mile (US cents/teu)

Average spot freight rates are

three times higher y-o-y, but
have not yet reached pandemic
highs. ALPHALINER

· Carriers operating North

South loops from Shang-
hai to Durban and Santos
enjoy highest income per
nautical mile

· Cape re-routings explain

low income per nautical
mile on Asia – North Eu-
rope trade
* 2024 figure based on
Cape of Good
· China - California is the
Hope routing
most lucrative East West
trade lane.

TITLE STORY: Rates per nautical mile 1

CORPORATE 3 Spot ocean freight rates climb towards pandemic highs
Antong to enter top 20 with Sinolines deal
CMA CGM pays USD 2 M fine The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) published by the Shanghai
Maersk raises 2024 earnings forecast
NOO results reflect renewal timings Shipping Exchange last Friday 31 May showed a 12.6% increase in spot ocean
SERVICES 6 rates ex Shanghai, which was the tenth consecutive week of rising rate levels.
Wan Hai launches new China-California
service
COSCO to launch extra Transpacific At 3,045 points, the rate index is still well below it’s historical peak of 5,110
Northwest loop
Maersk winds down Far East–USEC points registered on 7 January 2022 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. A
‘TP20’ service comparison however shows that average spot rates are almost three times
MSC extends Far East-Mexico-Caribbean
‘Santana’ service to ECSA higher than a year ago.
MSC ends India-West Africa ‘IAS’ service,
continues with ‘Indus Express’
Hapag-Lloyd to combine EU-WAF and Spot ocean freight rates have been rising rapidly since early April due to a com-
ECSA-WAF loops
Maersk offers UAE-Bahrain-Oman feeder
bination of strong cargo demand in China and a shortage of ships.
SITC launches Japan-China-Southeast
Asia loop A recent Alphaliner report in mid-May (see Alphaliner newsletter 2024-20)
SITC offers Malaysia-India-Myanmar link
Macrocean adds Subic Bay to S China- showed that the big alliance carriers were short of 36 vessels to fully staff all
Philippines loop
Samudera links Yangon and Kattupalli their Far East—Europe loops, which are being re-routed via the Cape of Good
X-Press ends ‘Denmark Sweden X-Press’, Hope due to the attacks on merchant ships in the Gulf of Aden.
slots on CMA CGM and ONE
Maersk starts Barcelona-Piraeus shuttle
Hapag-Lloyd cuts Turkey from Egypt- The earnings of the carriers vary from trade to trade. When taking into account
Adriatic loop
ONE reinstates, extends Egypt-Lebanon- the sailing distance, current spot freight rates ex Shanghai to Durban represent
Turkey loop an income of 69.6 US cents for each of the 6,936 nautical miles (nm) of this
VESSELS 13
PORTS & TERMINALS 23
trade route. This is the highest of all deep sea trades covered by the SCFI.
Liebherr supplies new cranes to
Clydeport Greenock Transport of spot cargo from Shanghai to North Europe is less rewarding. The
‘Megamax’ MSC ANNA: new record ship
on WC India and Pakistan longer sailing distance via South Africa results in an income of only 27.2 cents
per nautical mile, which is the lowest amount in our review.

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TITLE STORY
However, this still represents a substantial increase compared to an
income of only 8 US cents per nm one year ago. Earnings during the
pandemic reached no less than 73.9 cents on this trade lane in early
January 2022.

A closer look at the various port combinations on the deep sea trades
Early start for peak season (excluding intra-Australasia) tells us that the highest spot rate is pres-
ently charged from Shanghai to Santos.
The recent spot freight rate increases have
caught many by surprise. The Red Sea cri-
sis started to drive freight rates up from Since 15 March 2024 when this spot rate stood at USD 2,530/teu,
November last year. we have seen a continuous week-on-week increase up to the current
The SCFI rose from 1,000 points in early level of just over USD 7,400/teu.
November to over 2,200 points in January
and February, after which spot rates began When taking into account the sailing distance (10,910 nautical miles
declining again.
via the Cape of Good Hope), carriers now earn 67.9 cents per nm.
The recent increases are related to strong This is a tremendous increase compared to the 20.5 cents of exactly
cargo demand. Many importers have
learned their lesson from the supply chain one year ago, but still below the 94.6 cents of early January 2022.
chaos during the COVID pandemic and are
refilling their stocks early. Spot freight rates from Shanghai to US ports are always reported for
Freight rates are expected to remain firm 40’ containers and last week reached USD 6,168/feu for shipments
until the end of the peak season. With over to the USWC.
2 Mteu of new slots to be delivered before
the end of this year, the shortage of ships
will however no longer remain an issue.
To allow a comparison with the earnings on other rates, we calculat-
ed the revenue per nautical mile per teu slot. Carriers currently earn
Any solution of the Gaza conflict, and a re- 53 cents per nm/teu on Shanghai to Los Angeles, which compares to
turn of the main Asia - Europe loops to the
Suez route, would immediately lead to an only 14.3 cents a year ago and 68.7 cents during the pandemic (7
oversupply of tonnage with a very predicta- Jan 2022).
ble (negative) effect on spot freight rates.

The longer sailing distance from Shanghai to New York (10,587 nm

via the Panama Canal) explains a lower income of 34 cents per nm.
Once again, this represents a significant y-o-y increase (12.4 cents)
but is does not yet come close to the earnings of 55.9 cents in Janu-
ary 2022.

Current spot freight rates from Shanghai to Dubai have doubled y-o-y
with income per nm increasing from 22.9 to 44.9 cents. In early Jan-
uary 2022, carriers’ income on this route stood at 66.9 cents.

It is remarkable that spot ocean freight rated from Shanghai to the

West Med has been well above rates to North Europe since March
2022.

One year ago, when all main Asia – Europe loops were still using the
Suez Canal, revenue per nm for Shanghai to Genoa stood at 19 cents
which was more than twice the level to North Europe.

The sailing distance from Shanghai to Genoa has meanwhile in-

creased from 8,630 to 13,500 nautical miles, but its income per nm
of 34,9 US cents still is more than the 27.2 US cents per nm for box-
es on the Shanghai-Rotterdam route.
* Cape of Good Hope routing

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CORPORATE

Antong set to enter top 20 after Sinolines takeover

Chinese operator Antong Holdings is set to boost its container fleet
by as much as 50% after reaching agreement to take over Sinotrans
Container Lines (Sinolines) from fellow state-owned China Merchants
Energy Shipping Company (CMES).

In a reshuffling of China’s container assets, CMES will divest both

Sinolines and car carrying specialist China Merchants RoRo Trans-
portation (Guangzhou) to Antong in order to focus on tanker and dry
bulk shipping.

CMES purchased Sinolines from the Sinotrans group in 2021 for an

CMA CGM pays USD 2 M fine estimated CNY 2.02bn (USD 316 M).
French carrier CMA CGM agreed to pay a
USD 1.975 M fine to the US Federal Maritime The company currently operates 31 ships of 48,280 teu on routes
Commission (FMC) in order to settle allega- from the major Chinese coastal ports to Japan, Korea, Australia and
tions concerning unfair bill of lading prac-
tices. Southeast Asia.

The case revolved around CMA CGM’s defi- Combined company would be a top 20 operator
nition of ‘merchant’ in its bills of lading,
which the FMC argued had led to payment
demands to a third party company that A combination of Antong and Sinolines would create a potential fleet
should not have been billed. of around 130,000 teu, propelling Antong into the top 20 global rank-
As part of the agreement, CMA CGM also
ings at number 19, replacing Sinokor Merchant Marine.
pledged to pay compensation to impacted
third parties in the form of refunds and At present, Antong is ranked number 23 and Sinolines 34.
waivers.

Going forward, the French line will comply

CMES and Antong have a longstanding relationship dating back to
with the Demurrage and Detention Billing 2019 when the latter, then privately-owned, fell into administration
Rule (46 C.F.R. Part 541) which became ef- following a slew of lawsuits involving unauthorized guarantees issued
fective May 28, 2024.
by a top executive,
The move contrasts with MSC’s decision to
fight a much larger fine of USD 63.3 M an- The company was subsequently bailed out by Fujian Zhaohang Logis-
nounced in April by the FMC which also
concerned the potential over-charging of tics Management, a joint venture of CMES and government-owned
customers and incorrect billing. Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), which transformed it
The fine, potentially the largest ever levied into a state owned operation.
by the FMC, was described by MSC as
’excessive’. The Geneva-based carrier said Lines operate majority owned fleets
it would vigorously defend the claim, pav-
ing the way for an ultimate decision by an
administrative judge. CMES currently holds 100% of the equity in Sinolines. Under the
deal, which is expected to be funded by the issuance of new shares
plus a cash element, Antong will be the new controlling owner of
Sinolines.

Sinolines operates an extensive sea, rail and air forwarding network,

with sea freight forwarding volumes alone of 13.4 Mteu in 2023.

In terms of shipping activity, Antong operates a total fleet of 83 ves-

sels of 83,000 teu of which 41 units of 60,000 teu are owned by the
company. Sinotrans’s smaller fleet of 31 ships of 48,000 teu is two-
thirds owned.

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CORPORATE

The Red Sea crisis in numbers:

Maersk raises 2024 earnings forecast to USD 1-3 bn
Maersk Group’s 2024 earnings guidance Maersk Group, operator of the world’s second largest container line,
raised its earnings guidance for the full year to between USD 1 bn
and USD 3 bn in reaction to increasing tension in the market from
the Red Sea crisis.

The forecast, which applies to operating earnings (EBIT) for the whole
group, follows evidence of increasing port congestion in Asia and the
Middle East, which in turn is driving rates further upwards (see main
story on page 1).

This has combined with continued strong volume demand, with evi-
dence shippers are bringing forward orders for fear of greater prob-
lems later in the year. Maersk liftings were already up 7.5 y-o-y in Q1.

The move marks an about-turn from Maersk’s highly negative earn-

ings guidance in February where it ruled out any possibility of a profit
and warned operating losses could be as high as -USD 5 bn.

That forecast coincided with a huge USD –920 M operating loss on

container shipping activities in Q4 2023, far above market averages.

Maersk subsequently increased the low end of this forecast in May,

predicting a maximum loss of –USD 2 bn, but with still no prospects
of positive earnings. This week’s revision reverses that, with the risk
of losses now averted for this year.

Maersk said trading conditions remained subject to ‘higher than nor-

mal volatility’ given the unpredictability of the Red Sea situation, plus
the ‘lack of clarity’ of future supply and demand.

It predicts group EBITDA of USD 7-9 bn (previously USD 4-6 bn) for
2024, and free cash flow of at least USD 1 bn (previous low end USD
-2bn). The group is scheduled to publish second-quarter results on 7
August.
Maersk Group’s EBIT earnings since 2019,
with latest 2024 forecast

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CORPORATE

NOO fortunes in Q1 reflect renewal timings

Non-operating owners (NOOs) reported a variety of financial results for the
first quarter of 2024, with fortunes closely tied to the number of renewals
signed since the recent firming in the charter market.

This contrasts with efforts post-COVID, when many sought to lock up

fleets, anticipating a prolonged fall in rates, that has since been reversed
Danaos profit falls in Q1 with by the Red Sea crisis. Others, notably Costamare, looked to grow in other
sectors such as dry bulk.
fewer vessels up for renewal
Adjusted net profit for the container activi- GSL unveils bonus dividend after strong result
ties of Athens-based NOO Danaos Corp
were down 6% in the first quarter of the
year at USD 139 M.
Global Ship Lease (GSL), the seventh ranked NOO worldwide, beat
analysts’ revenue predictions in the first quarter of the year after
Despite a rise in vessel utilisation due to benefiting from a series of charter renewals in a firming market.
fewer dry-dockings, Danaos earned a lower
Time Charter Equivalent of USD 38,698 per
day in the quarter, down from USD 40,826 a The NYSE-listed company posted operating revenues of USD 179 M,
year earlier. up 13% on a year ago. Adjusted EBITDA after special events rose to
The US-listed NOO has benefited less from USD 125 M, up from USD 104 M, while adjusted net income was
rising charter rates, with 99% of its fleet USD 89 M versus USD 76 M in Q1 2023.
now contracted for 2024, and 69% for 2025
(including newbuildings).
The strength of the results prompted GSL to announce a supple-
As of end March, Danaos had 14 container mental dividend of USD 0.075 in addition to its regular USD 0.375
ships of 107,946 teu under construction,
including four 8,258 teu newbuildings or- payment. The payout will begin after the release of Q2 results and
dered in February and March. continue ‘as long as conditions are supportive’.
Two of the units were delivered in April and
May. They will be followed by four more GSL said nine new or extended charters in 1Q24 added nearly USD
ships in 2024, two in 2025, three in 2026 and 55 M of extra contract cover, while it had been able to sign deals
three in 2027. All are methanol fuel-ready.
with longer-than-anticipated durations. It has 20 more ships coming
open (including extension options) in the last three quarters of 2024.

At end March, GSL operated a pure container fleet of 68 vessels of

375,406 teu. The company said orderbook ratios in its segments (2-
10,000 teu) remain manageable, at 12%.

Costamare profits leap, helped by bulk operations

US-listed Costamare reported a significant increase in adjusted net
income for the first quarter at USD 75 M, against USD 46 M a year
earlier, partly due to expansion in its bulk business. Costamare does
not separate out container earnings, but at-
MPC profits fall on lower rates, smaller fleet
tributed the gain to increased bulk volumes on
Oslo-listed MPC Container reported a drop in revenue and earnings in a year ago as well as higher charter rates on
the first quarter of the year with net profits of USD 76.5 M, down from
USD 119.7 M a year earlier. certain container and bulk ships.

Revenue came in at USD 147.5 M, a decline of 18%, partly reflecting a In the general containership market, rates
reduced number of operated vessels. The average Time Charter Equiva-
lent per trading day was USD 27,452 compared to USD 30,989 a year were significantly improved from the end of
earlier. MPC has 21 vessels yet to come off charter this year. 2023, while demolition fell versus Q1 2023.
The firm said it continued to make good progress on fleet renewal, with
a joint investment contract with Unifeeder for its third 1,300 teu dual- Costamare has fixed 97% and 80% of its 68-
fuel methanol newbuilding, while a scrubber retrofit on the 3,500 teu AS vessel containership fleet for 2024 and 2025.
NORA was also completed in the quarter.
It also operates 39 bulkers.

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LINER SERVICES
Wan Hai launches new China-California service
Wan Hai: ‘Asia America I’ (AA1) The Taiwanese carrier Wan Hai Lines is the first liner operator to re-
China - California act to the strong Transpacific market by launching a new weekly Chi-
Vessels Deployed na – California loop, branded as ‘Asia America I’ (‘AA1').
6 x 3,000 – 4,530 teu
Six 3,000 – 4,530 teu vessels will be used for this new standalone
Port Rotation
service, that turns in six weeks calling at Shekou, Qingdao, Ningbo,
Shekou, Qingdao, Ningbo, Long Beach, Shekou
Long Beach, Shekou. The new 'AA1' has kicked off on Monday 3 June
with a first call at Shekou of the 3,013 teu WAN HAI 361.

The new ‘AA1’ adds to Wan Hai's former Asia – California ‘AA3’ loop,
which in early May 2024 became a jointly operated service with ONE
under the new ‘AP1’ brand with larger vessels of 7,240 to 13,450
teu connecting Vietnam, China and Taiwan with Los Angeles and
Oakland.

Contrary to the ‘AP1’, the new ‘AA1’ only focusses on the Chinese
market with calls in Southern, Northern and Central China. It adds an
average weekly capacity of 3,520 teu to this trade lane.

Wan Hai Lines increases its Transpacific capacity at the moment that
spot ocean freight rates are soaring. These spot rates almost dou-
bled in the past seven weeks according to the Shanghai Container-
ized Freight Index (SCFI), moving up from USD 3,175/feu in mid-April
to almost USD 6,170/feu last week.

COSCO to launch extra Transpacific Northwest loop

COSCO SHIPPING Lines: ‘CPV’, OOCL: ‘PNW5’ Shortly after Wan Hai Lines is launching a new China – California
China - West Coast of North America ‘AA1’ loop, COSCO SHIPPING Lines and sister OOCL are also to add
Vessels Deployed extra capacity on the Transpacific trade.
6 x 4,250 – 7,100 teu
COSCO’s new China – West Coast of North America ‘China Pacific
Port Rotation
Northwest Vancouver’ loop (‘CPV’) will turn in six weeks with 6 x
Ningbo, Shanghai, Vancouver, Seattle, Lianyun-
gang, Ningbo
4,250 – 7,100 teu vessels. OOCL will brand the new service as
‘Pacific North West 5’ (‘PNW5’).

A first sailing is planned on 12 June with the 4,253 teu COSCO VEN-
ICE ex Ningbo. The full rotation includes calls at Ningbo, Shanghai,
Vancouver, Seattle, Lianyungang, Ningbo.

Three other classic panamax vessels have already been assigned to

the fleet of the new 'CPV / PNW5' loop, as well as the somewhat larg-
er 7,092 teu EA CETUS.

Maersk winds down Far East–USEC ‘TP20’ service

Only six weeks after re-launching its standalone Far East – US East
Coast ‘TP20’ service, Maersk has decided to close this service which
called at Qingdao, Shanghai, Yantian, Newark, Baltimore, Houston,
Qingdao.

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LINER SERVICES

The ‘TP20’ turns in twelve weeks and so far six relatively small 2,540
– 5,470 teu vessels are deployed. Capacity constraints are forcing
Maersk to wind down the loop, which was seen as a complement to
its Asia to/from US East Coast offer.

“Due to the ripple effects of the ongoing Red Sea situation, including
delays and capacity constraints, we are required to reorganize the
network”, Maersk explained in a notice for customers.

The last westbound sailing ex Shanghai will be offered already next

week on 13 June with the 3,388 teu BSG BARBADOS. The same ves-
sel will also offer the last eastbound departure from Newark on 17
July.

MSC extends Far East-Mexico-Caribbean ‘Santana’

service to ECSA
MSC: ‘Santana’ MSC has last week extended its Far East-Mexico-Caribbean ‘Santana’
Far East - Mexico - Caribbean service to the East Coast of South America (ECSA) with new calls at
Vessels Deployed Salvador, Itaguai, Paranagua and Santos.
13 x 13,000 - 15,000 teu
Port Rotation
The expanded rotation now takes in Yantian, Ningbo, Shanghai, Qing-
Yantian, Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao, Busan,
dao, Busan, Manzanillo (Mex), Cristobal, Caucedo, Salvador, Itaguai,
Manzanillo (Mex), Cristobal, Caucedo, Salva- Paranagua, Santos, Yantian. The service will now be turning in thir-
dor, Itaguai, Paranagua, Santos, Yantian teen weeks versus eleven so far, calling for the addition of two ves-
sels to the existing 11-strong ship fleet.

Among the ships deployed are several units of 15,264 teu which will
be the largest running on the trade, the flagships on the route being
currently two 14,092 teu units operated by COSCO SHIPPING Lines,
the COSCO SHIPPING ARGENTINA and COSCO SHIPPING BRAZIL.

MSC’s new ECSA-bound ‘Santana’ service, which kicked off from

Shanghai last Wednesday with the 14,272 teu MSC JEWEL will be
the Geneva carrier’s second major loop serving the East Coast of
South America from Asia, adding to the ‘Ipanema’ loop, operated
jointly with ONE and Hapag-Lloyd.

MSC ends India-West Africa ‘IAS’ service, continues

with ‘Indus Express’
MSC: ‘Indus Express’ MSC is ending its India-West Africa-South Africa ‘IAS’ service (India
Indian Subcon nent - West Africa - US East Africa Service) which is calling at Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Colombo,
Coast
Abidjan, Lome, Tema, Lagos, Cape Town, Ngqura, Port Louis, Khalifa,
Vessels Deployed
Jebel Ali, Mundra using a proforma fleet of 10 vessels of 4,200-
13 x 8,000 – 9,400 teu 8,000 teu.
Port Rotation
Instead, MSC will be covering the route with its Cape of Good Hope-
Port Qasim, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Colombo,
Lome, Newark, Savannah, Norfolk, Charleston,
routed India-USEC-USG ‘Indus Express’ service which will be wayport
Freeport (Bah), Khalifa Seaport (Abu Dhabi), calling at Lome going forward. From Lome, MSC will serve all the oth-
Jebel Ali, Port Qasim

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LINER SERVICES
er West African destinations currently offered by ‘IAS’ by transship-
ment onto MSC’s West Africa feeder network.

In its revised version, the ‘Indus Express’ will be calling at Port Qasim,
Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Colombo, Lome, Newark, Savannah, Norfolk,
Charleston, Freeport (Bah), Khalifa Seaport, Jebel Ali, Port Qasim,
using a fleet of 13 vessels of 8,000-9,400 teu.

Hapag-Lloyd to combine EU-WAF and ECSA-WAF loops

Hapag-Lloyd: ‘SAT’ Hapag-Lloyd is to combine its recently launched North Europe - West
North Europe - West Africa - ECSA Africa ‘WWA’ service with its ECSA - West Africa ‘SAT’ loop creating a
Vessels Deployed tri-continent, multi-leg, North-South operation.

tba x 2,800 - 4,600 teu The new combined service, which will retain the brand ’SAT,’ will suc-
Port Rotation cessively serve North Europe, West Africa, the East Coast of South
Rotterdam, Antwerp, Le Havre, Lisbon, Tanger America, South Africa, West Africa and back to Europe.
Med, Tema, Pointe Noire, Luanda, Paranagua,
Santos, Navegantes, Durban, Port Elizabeth, The South Africa coverage is however expected to be temporary only,
Luanda, Tanger Med, Rotterdam catering for the fruit export season from South Africa until Septem-
ber.

The rotation of the new ‘SAT’ will encompass from early July calls at
Rotterdam, Antwerp, Le Havre, Lisbon, Tanger Med, Tema, Pointe
Noire, Luanda, Paranagua, Santos, Navegantes, Durban, Port Eliza-
beth, Luanda, Tanger Med, Rotterdam. The fleet will include at the
beginning a mix of ships from 2,800 to 4,600 teu.

It is believed that Arkas Line, which slots on the Le Havre-Tanger Med

-Tema leg of the ‘WWA’ under the name ‘TEX,’ will continue to partici-
pate. Maersk is also expected to continue its slot charter on the
ECSA - WAF leg of the new ‘SAT’, bar Luanda and Cape Town which is
no longer served by the new loop.

Maersk: 'UAE-Bahrain-Oman' Maersk offers UAE-Bahrain-Oman feeder

Intra - Gulf
Vessels Deployed Maersk started in the first half of May a weekly feeder service cover-
ing the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman.
1 x 2,800 teu
Port Rotation The 2,478 teu MAERSK DOUALA kicked off the new intra-Gulf loop,
Jebel Ali, Bahrain, Sohar, Jebel Ali which covers Jebel Ali, Bahrain, Sohar, Jebel Ali with a sailing from
Jebel Ali on 11 May. The 2,824 teu IRENES RYTHM then joined the
service on 22 May replacing the MAERSK DOUALA.

Coinciding with the introduction of this new service, Maersk recently

ceased its slots participation on Unifeeder’s ‘UBX’ service that con-
nects Jebel Ali, Bahrain, Jubail, Jebel Ali. Of note, Maersk did not par-
ticipate at Jubail.

Besides allowing the Danish operator to maintain a regular coverage

at the Omani port of Sohar, the new ‘Jebel Ali-Bahrain-Sohar’ loop
provides Maersk with a second weekly loop linking the hub of Jebel

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LINER SERVICES

Ali and Bahrain. This adds to Maersk’s 'Upper Gulf feeder' service
(Kuwait loop), which calls at Jebel Ali, Shuaiba, Shuwaikh, Bahrain,
Jebel Ali.

SITC launches Japan-China-Southeast Asia loop

SITC: 'VTX6' Chinese regional carrier Shandong International Transportation Cor-
Japan - China - Cambodia - Thailand - Vietnam poration (SITC) will next month launch a new ‘VTX6’ service covering
Vessels Deployed Japan (Kanto and Chubu), Central China, Cambodia, Thailand and
4 x 1,000 teu (TBD) Southern Vietnam.
Port Rotation
The port rotation of the ‘VTX6’ will include Yokohama, Tokyo, Nagoya,
Yokohama, Tokyo, Nagoya, Shanghai, Ningbo,
Shanghai, Ningbo, Sihanoukville, Laem Chabang, Ho Chi Minh city
Sihanoukville, Laem Chabang, Ho Chi Minh city
(Cat Lai), Nansha, Yokohama (Cat Lai), Nansha, Yokohama. The loop is set to turn in four weeks
but SITC so far has only advertised two vessels, the 1,049 teu HF
WEALTH and the 1,042 teu SITC HOCHIMINH.

The SITC HOCHIMINH will commence the first sailing of the 'VTX6'
when the vessel departs from Tokyo on 9 June.

With the launch of this ‘VTX6’, SITC will provide the only regular ser-
vice between Kanto and Chubu regions in Japan with Sihanoukville,
the gateway to Cambodia. The carrier presently connects the Kansai
region in Japan with Sihanoukville using its ‘VTX1’, that covers Japan
(Kansai), Korea, South and Central China, Vietnam, Cambodia and
Thailand.

Furthermore, the ‘VTX6’ will further boost SITC’s already comprehen-

sive coverage between China, Japan, Thailand and Southern Vi-
etnam.

SITC offers Malaysia-India-Myanmar link

SITC: 'MIM' Shandong International Transportation Corporation (SITC) will in early
Malaysia - Eastern India - Myanmar June introduce a new service between Malaysia, Eastern India and
Vessels Deployed Myanmar.
2 x 900 teu
Aptly marketed as ‘MIM’, this upcoming loop will turn in two weeks
Port Rotation calling at Port Kelang (Northport), Haldia, Yangon, Port Kelang
Port Kelang (Northport), Haldia, Yangon, Port (Northport). The Chinese regional carrier plans to deploy two sister
Kelang (Northport)
ships of 907 teu, the SITC NAGOYA and SITC TIANJIN, to provide
weekly sailings on the 'MIM'.

The SITC NAGOYA will commence the maiden voyage of the new
‘MIM’ loop with a sailing from Haldia on 6 June.

The new ‘MIM’ will provide the only weekly connection between the
Eastern Indian port of Haldia and Yangon, the gateway to Myanmar.
Furthermore, SITC will thereafter offer two weekly calls at Yangon,
adding to the operator’s current China-Bangladesh-Myanmar-
Malaysia-Vietnam ‘CBX2’ service.

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LINER SERVICES
Macrocean adds Subic Bay to S China-Philippines loop
Macrocean: 'CX1' Macrocean International Shipping recently upgraded its South China
South China - Philippines - Philippines 'CX1' service with the inclusion of the Philippines port of
Vessels Deployed Subic Bay and the addition of a second vessel.
2 x 1,000 - 1,100 teu
The updated ‘CX1’ now turns in two weeks with two 1,000 – 1,100
Port Rotation
teu ships calling at Quanzhou, Manila (North), Subic Bay, Xiamen,
Quanzhou, Manila (North), Subic Bay, Xiamen,
Quanzhou. The 1,148 teu MEICO 1 performed the 'CX1' inaugural call
Quanzhou
at Subic Bay on 28 April.

Samudera links Yangon and Kattupalli

Samudera: 'Yangon-Ka upalli shu le' Samudera Shipping Line last week organized a new dedicated ser-
Myanmar - Eastern India vice between Myanmar and the east coast of India.
Vessels Deployed
The Singapore-based regional carrier now offers once every ten days
1 x 1,000 teu
sailings between Yangon and Kattupalli using the 1,054 teu SINAR
Port Rotation
SOLO. The ship started this new shuttle with a sailing from the Myan-
Yangon (MIP), Kattupalli, Yangon (MIP)
mar Industrial Port terminal (MIP) in Yangon on 30 May.
*Sailings every 10 days
Before the launch of this new Samudera loop, Straits Orient Lines
(SOL) was the only carrier providing a regular service between Yan-
gon and Kattupalli. SOL introduced its fortnightly Myanmar-Eastern
India loop back in January 2023 and it added a second ship last
month. Thereafter, the loop provides weekly sailings with two 650 -
1,030 teu vessels between the two ports.

Kattupalli is a satellite port for the Chennai area, situated some 30

kilometers north of the city. The port currently handles vessels with
sizes ranging from 600 to 8,500 teu operated by a variety of carriers,
including HMM, Global Feeder Shipping, VIMC, Hapag-Lloyd, COSCO
SHIPPING Lines, Regional Container Lines and Wan Hai.

X-Press ends ‘Denmark Sweden X-Press’, slots on CMA

CGM and ONE
X-Press Feeders: ‘DSX’ X-Press Feeders in late May discontinued its ‘Denmark Sweden X-
Germany - Denmark Press’ ‘DSX’ service when the 700 teu EMILIA arrived in Hamburg on
Vessels Deployed 27 May.
Slots on ONE
Instead, the Singapore-based feeder operator has concluded a slot
Port Rotation agreement with CMA CGM and Ocean Network Express (ONE) on
Slots limited to Hamburg, Fredericia, Hamburg three existing Northwest Continent – Scandinavia loops of the two
carriers and continues to market them as ‘DSX’. Details stand as fol-
lows:

> X-Press Feeders introduced its closed ‘DSX’ in 2020 and used to
operate this loop with one single ship which offered weekly sailings
between Hamburg, Fredericia, Copenhagen, Helsingborg, and Ham-
burg.

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X-Press Feeders: ‘DSX’

> To maintain a direct Hamburg – Copenhagen link, X-Press Feeders
Germany - Scandinavia started to slot on the Germany – Scandinavia ‘SWX’ service of CMA
Vessels Deployed CGM. The ‘SWX’ turns in a weekly basis with the 750 teu ENCOUN-
Slots on CMA CGM
TER calling at Bremerhaven, Hamburg, Halmstad, Copenhagen, Gote-
borg, Bremerhaven. X-Press Feeders’ slots on the two-year old loop
Port Rotation
are limited to Hamburg, Copenhagen, Goteborg, Hamburg.
Slots limited to Hamburg, Copenhagen, Gote-
borg, Hamburg
> The second CMA CGM loop on which X-Press has started to take
slots is the Northwest Continent-Scandinavia ‘Denmark Express
X-Press Feeders: ‘DSX’
Northwest Con nent - Scandinavia ‘loop, dubbed ‘DKX’. CMA CGM provides this ‘DKX’, which the carrier
launched in 2023, with one single ship, the 850 teu CONTAINER-
Vessels Deployed
SHIPS VIII which offers weekly sailings between Rotterdam, Aarhus,
Slots on CMA CGM
Helsingborg, and Rotterdam.
Port Rotation
Rotterdam, Aarhus, Helsingborg, Rotterdam > The third new Northwest Continent – Scandinavia service on which
X-Press Feeders will be slotting is the ‘Scan Baltic Express’ / ‘SBX’ of
ONE. This brand-new service is operated by the 1,085 teu SVEND-
BORG which offers weekly sailings connecting Wilhelmshaven with
Hamburg, Fredericia, and Gdynia. X-Press Feeders will offer a first
sailing on the new ‘SBX’ on 4 June ex Hamburg and its slots are lim-
ited to Hamburg, Fredericia, Hamburg.

Maersk introduces Barcelona-Piraeus shuttle

Maersk: Barcelona-Piraeus shu le Maersk will this week expand its network of services in the Med by
Spain - Greece launching a new fortnightly shuttle service connecting Barcelona with
Vessels Deployed Piraeus.
1 x 2,782 teu
The Danish carrier will deploy one single ship, the freshly chartered
Port Rotation 2,782 teu FLEUR N which is scheduled to kick off the new Barcelona
Barcelona, Piraeus, Barcelona – Piraeus loop on 7 June from Barcelona.

Hapag-Lloyd cuts Turkey from Egypt-Adriatic loop

Hapag-Lloyd: ‘ADX’ Hapag-Lloyd will as of next week shorten the coverage of its Egypt –
Adria c - Egypt Adriatic ‘Adriatic Express’ (‘ADX’) by removing the Turkish calls of Is-
Vessels Deployed tanbul (Ambarli), Yarimca, and Aliaga from the itinerary as well as the
3 x 2,400 - 2,700 teu second Piraeus call.
Port Rotation The shortened ‘ADX’ will continue to turn in three weeks (one week
Piraeus, Alexandria, Damietta, Koper, Rijeka, less) with 3 x 2,400 – 2,700 teu ships calling at Piraeus, Alexandria,
Ancona, Venice (Marghera), Piraeus
Damietta, Koper, Rijeka, Ancona, Venice (Marghera), Piraeus. The
updated rotation is scheduled to commence with the sailing of the
2,546 teu CHARM C on 10 June ex Piraeus.

At the beginning of this year, the German carrier extended the ‘ADX’
to Turkey with the addition of a fourth ship, the 3,534 teu MONA LI-
SA.

Hapag-Lloyd continues to link the upper Adriatic with Turkey with the

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‘ADX’ which connects in Piraeus with Hapag-Lloyd’s North Europe-

Turkey Express (‘EMX’). The Hamburg-headquartered line jointly oper-
ates this ‘EMX’ with Maersk (‘AEGEAN SEA’) and Diamond Line
(‘NET’), the intra-European carrier of COSCO Shipping Lines.

ONE reinstates, extends Egypt-Lebanon-Turkey loop

ONE: ‘ELT’ Ocean Network Express (ONE) will in late June reinstate its Egypt-
Intra East Med Lebanon-Turkey service (‘ELT’), that the carrier had originally planned
Vessels Deployed to launch in January.
1 x 1,118 teu
The Japanese line will further extend the coverage to Greece and Cy-
Port Rotation
prus with the addition of new calls at Piraeus and Limassol.
Piraeus, Limassol, Damietta, Beirut, Iskende-
run, Piraeus ONE’s extended ‘ELT’ will continue to turn in two weeks (one week
extra) and offer fortnightly sailings with the 1,118 teu BENEDIKT call-
ing at Piraeus, Limassol, Damietta, Beirut, Iskenderun, Piraeus.

The BENEDIKT will commence to follow the revised rotation of the

reinstated ‘ELT’, when she departs from Damietta on 27 June. She is
scheduled to make her debut at Piraeus a week later.

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Containership Deliveries in June
NACKS delivers the OOCL SWEDEN (24,188 teu)
Vessel Name teu Operator
Exactly one month after receiving the ‘megamax’ container vessel
MAERSK FRANKFURT 5,920 Maersk OOCL FINLAND from Dalian COSCO KHI Ship Engineering (DACKS),
MACKENZIE 5,500 ZIM Orient Overseas Container Line has now taken delivery of the OOCL
SWEDEN.
Containership Deliveries in May
The new ship was built by DACKS’ sister yard NACKS (Nantong
Vessel Name teu Operator
COSCO KHI Ship Engineering) on the Yangtze River, but she received
OOCL SWEDEN 24,188 OOCL her finishing touches at DACKS, which explains why the new vessel
DAMIETTA EXPRESS 23,664 Hapag-Lloyd started her service life at Dalian in the North of China.
SINGAPORE EXPRESS 23,664 Hapag-Lloyd The OOCL SWEDEN is the tenth ship in a series of twelve conventionally-
powered and scrubber-fitted ‘megamax’ vessels that OOCL will receive
MSC QUITTERIE 16,616 MSC from China’s NACKS and DACKS shipyards.
ANTONIA MAERSK 16,592 Maersk
CMA CGM GRACE BAY 15,254 CMA CGM
HMM EMERALD 13,788 HMM
HMM DIAMOND 13,788 HMM
HMM PERIDOT 13,600 HMM
CMA CGM SAO PAULO 13,264 CMA CGM
CATHERINE C 8,010 MSC
ZIM SCORPIO 7,928 ZIM
CMA CGM AMBITION 7,327 CMA CGM
ONE REINFORCEMENT 7,164 ONE
X-PRESS PYXIS 7,092 COSCO
CMA CGM BAIKAL 6,014 CMA CGM The new 24,188 teu OOCL SWEDEN sailed from the yard this week
PRESIDENT GRANT 5,598 CMA CGM (APL) and positioned to Qingdao, where she joins the OCEAN Alliance Far
East - North Europe service ’NEU1’, which OOCL calls the ‘LL1’.
MAERSK YELL’STONE 3,600 Maersk
WAN HAI 371 3,055 Wan Hai Lines The OOCL FINLAND is ship number ten in a series of twelve conven-
CELSIUS ESSEN 3,006 Unifeeder tionally-powered and scrubber-fitted ‘megamaxes’ that OOCL will re-
ceive from the Dalian-based DACKS and its Nantong-based sister
ANAXAGORAS 2,862 Maersk
yard NACKS in 2023 and this year. Units eleven and twelve of the
ACHELOOS 2,862 Hapag-Lloyd
type are due in June (DACKS) and September (NACKS) as the OOCL
IRENES RESPECT 2,782 Hapag-Lloyd DENMARK and OOCL PORTUGAL.
QINGDAO VOYAGER 2,782 Sinokor
OOCL’s new flagships are 399.99 m long and 61.30 m (24 rows)
ITAL WAY 2,373 Evergreen
wide and they have a deadweight of 215,000 tons. The scrubber-
CMA CGM RUNDALE 2,126 CMA CGM fitted vessels are powered by WinGD 12X92 series engines that have
MONICA 1,809 CMA CGM been down-rated to 61,000 kW for a speed of about 22.5 knots.
SITC CHANGDE 1,800 SITC
HHI delivers the ANTONIA MAERSK (16,592 teu, MDF)
XINYI GLASS 1,500 China domestic
PANDA 003 1,380 Tailwind Hyundai Heavy Industries at the end of May delivered the 16,592 teu
MTT LABUAN 1,220 MTT
ANTONIA MAERSK to A.P. Moller-Maersk of Denmark. The ship is the
third unit in a series of twelve methanol-dual fuel (MDF) powered
A SUWA 1,096 Shandong PSG
‘Equinox Mk-I‘ vessels that the Korean yard will deliver to Maersk this
PEGASUS DREAM 961 Dong Young year and in 2025.

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The series will be followed by another six slightly larger ‘Equinox Mk-
II‘ sisters, estimated at 17,350 teu.

Maersk’s new 16,592 teu vessel type is 351.00 m long and 53.30 m
(21 rows) wide. Each ship is powered by an MAN B&W 8G95ME-
C10.5-LGIM-HPEGR type main engine that delivers 44,200 kW for a
service speed of 21 knots.
right: The ANTONIA MAERSK is the
third ship in Maersk’s new class of
Methanol-enabled 16,592 teu ves-
sels from Hyundai Heavy Shipyard.

The design is being referred to as

the ‘Equinox’ or ‘Equinox Mk-I’.

Maersk will receive twelve units of

the type, as well as six ships of a
slightly wider and thus larger type,
generally referred to as the ‘Equinox
Mk-II’ type.

photo: V. Tonic

With these compact dimensions, the vessels are too wide for the
Panama Canal. Their short wide-beam footprint and their unusual
profile with an all-forward bridge however, allows the ships to carry
more boxes than similarly-sized vessels of conventional design.

The ANTONIA MAERSK will join the 2M Asia - Europe loop ‘AE5’ /
‘Albatross’, which otherwise deploys a fleet of ‘EEE-1’ and ‘EEE-2’
class ‘megamaxes’ of 18,340 teu and 20,568 teu, respectively.

Hyundai delivers the HMM DIAMOND (13,788 teu)

Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) at the end of last week deliv-
ered the compact neo-panamax (NPX) vessel HMM DIAMOND to
compatriot ocean carrier HMM.

The new 13,788 teu ship is the fifth of six conventionally-powered

and scrubber-fitted sisters that the yard will build for HMM and she is
the sixth unit in a newbuilding program of twelve similarly-sized ves-
sels that HMM (6) and Hanwha Ocean (6) will build for HMM. All
twelve ships will have ‘Gemstone class’ name suffixes.

The HMM DIAMOND is 335.00 m long and 51.00 m (20 rows) wide,
with a deadweight of 141,200 tons on a 16.00 m draft.

She is powered by an MAN B&W 7G95ME-C10-LPSCR type main en-

gine that delivers 37,660 kW and gives the ship a speed of 21 knots.

Four alternator sets generate 20,000 kW of electrical power to sup-

ply up to 1,400 reefers.

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HMM will deploy the new vessel on its Far East - USEC service ‘EC1’
of THE Alliance.

The loop currently uses the Panama Canal for fronthaul trips from
Asia to America, while return voyages use Panama or Cape of Good
Hope routings.

SWS delivers the X-PRESS PYXIS (7,092 teu)

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipyard (SWS) this week delivered the 7,092
teu X-PRESS PYXIS. The new container ship is the last in a series of
eleven ‘SDARI Sealion 7000’ type vessels for Sea Consortium, the
ship owner behind X-Press Feeders of Singapore.

X-Press itself currently only operates five of the ships with the other
six being chartered out.

The new X-PRESS PYXIS is thus expected to join COSCO for a three
year period. Before phasing into service, the ship will likely change to
a COSCO name or at least lose her X-PRESS name prefix.

As a ‘SDARI Sealion 7000’ type, the new ship is 272.50 m long and
42.80 m (17 rows) wide. The conventionally-powered scrubber-fitted
vessel is equipped with an MAN B&W 7G80ME-C10 main engine that
delivers about 33,000 kW and drives the ship at a speed of 21
knots. Up to 800 reefer containers can be carried.

COSCO SHIPPING Lines has not yet advertised the ship’s upcoming
deployment. The Chinese carrier currently uses two of the ‘SDARI
Sealion 7000’ sisters that it charters from Sea Consortium on the
Asia - Med ‘MED3’ (COSCO: ‘AEM2’) and one on the Asis - WCNA
‘PNW2’ (COSCO: ‘CPNW’).

Imazo delivers the MAERSK FRANKFURT (5,920 teu)

Japan’s Imabari Marugame shipyard this weekend delivered the
5,920 teu MAERSK FRANKFURT to compatriot tonnage provider and
vessel manager Tokei Kaiun.

Following the MAERSK FELIXSTOWE, the MAERSK FLORENCE and the

MAERSK FORTALEZA, the new ship is the fourth ‘Imabari 5500 Com-
pact’ type container ship built for charter to Maersk.

Contrary to two time-chartered sisters controlled by Shoei Kisen,

Maersk appears to have bare-boat chartered the vessel and its sister
MAERSK FORTALEZA from Tokei Kaiun, with ship management duties
taken care of from Copenhagen. Another upcoming ship of the type,
to be named MAERSK FREDERICIA, is believed to be Maersk-owed.

The MAERSK FRANKFURT to has a length of 254.90 m, a breadth of

40.00 m (16 rows), and a deadweight of 76,514 tons.

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Propulsion power is provided by an MAN B&W 6G80ME-C10.6-EGRTC

engine with an output of 27,000 kW which gives the ship a top speed
of 21.5 knots. The vessel is fitted with 1,192 reefer plugs.

right: An earlier ship of the Imabari-

designed 5,920 teu type on sea trials
in Japanese waters.

photo: Imabari

Maersk’s next ship of this type, to be named MAERSK FRANKFURT, is

currently under construction at Imabari Marugame. Other operators
of this type include OOCL and CMA CGM.

So far, Imabari Group has delivered nine ships of the type, which are
currently in service with Maersk (4), CMA CGM Group (3) and OOCL
(2).

The MAERSK FRANKFURT will first perform some ‘extra sailer’ duties
within Asia and she will then phase into the joint ‘FI3’ / ‘NWX’ China -
Korea - India Service (7922) of Maersk and X-Press Feeders.

HJSI delivers the MACKENZIE (5,500 teu)

HJ Shipbuilding and Construction (HJSC) of Busan, Korea, this past
weekend handed over the container ship MACKENZIE.

The 5,500 teu vessel is the fifth unit in a series of six ‘Hanjin 5400 W
MK-II’ type sisters originally ordered by MPCC in 2021 (4 units) and
2022 (2 units). MPC has since sold some of the ships, but typically
kept their management

The MACKENZIE and her sisters are conventionally-powered ships,

but designed to facilitate upgrading them to methanol propulsion at
a later stage.
above: the 5,500 teu sisters ships
MACKENZIE and COLORADO were The ships of the ‘Hanjin 5400 W MK-II’ have a deadweight of 64,300
named in a joint ceremony at Busan.
tons on a 13.90 m draft, a length of 255.00 m and a breadth of
photo: MPC 37.30 m (15 rows).

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They are powered by an MAN B&W-6G 80ME-C10-HPSCR engine that

delivers 28,260 kW. Up to 850 reefer containers can be carried.

The MACKENZIE has been chartered by the Haifa-based carrier ZIM,

which committed to taking all six of the MPCC units.

ZIM will deploy the ship on its Transpacific loop ‘ZEX’, which links Vi-
etnam and China to Los Angeles.

HMD delivers the CMA CGM RUNDALE (2,126 teu, LNG)

KSEO Group’s Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) at the end of May deliv-
ered the CMA CGM RUNDALE, the third of ten LNG-powered 2,126
teu vessels designed specifically for the European short-sea market.
right: The CMA CGM MERMAID was
the first ship in a series of Hyundai
Mipo Dockyard-built 2,126 teu ‘feeder’
vessels with LNG propulsion. Here,
she is seen in the Kiel Canal.

CMA CGM’s new ‘Mermaid’ class was

designed specifically for the north
European short-sea and feeder trades.

photo: HenSti CC BY-SA 4.0

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=148399828

The new ship follows the series’ lead unit CMA CGM MERMAID and
the CMA CGM ERMITAGE.

CMA CGM ordered the ten gearless vessels in November 2021 for a
price of USD 63 M per unit.

The ships are 204.29 m long and 29.60 m (11 rows) wide with a
deadweight of 31,000 teu on a 10.00 m draft. They are optimized to
load a high percentage of intermodal containers that are often 45-ft
long, hi-cube, and pallet-wide.

In line with their designated trade area in Northern Europe, the ves-
sels come with a 1A ice-class notation. The ships feature a forward
superstructure, a bulbless bow, and an aerodynamically optimized
foreship.

They are designed to fit through the Kiel Canal which comes with
both a draft (9.50 m max and 8.10 m for ships of this size) and an air
draft (40.00 m) restriction.

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Propulsion power is provided by an MAN B&W-6S60ME-C10.5-GI type

main engine that can deliver up to 17,000 kW. Up to 650 reefer can
be supplied with electricity.

The new CMA CGM RUNDALE will start positioning to Europe this
week to join her two sisters in the shortsea trade between the North
Continent main ports, and ports in Scandinavia, Finland and the Bal-
tic States.

Huanghai delivers the SITC CHANGDE (1,800 teu)

Huanghai Shipbuilding on 31 May delivered the 1.800 teu SITC
CHANGDE to the Shandong International Transportation Corporation,
better known by its acronym SITC.
right: The brand new SITC CHANG-
DE at the outfitting pier of Huanghai
Shipbuilding.

below: Formal delivery of the 1,800

teu ‘Bangkokmax’ vessel took place
on 31 May.

photos: SITC

The conventionally-powered ‘vessel is a ‘SDARI Sealion 1800’ ship, a

standard type in this class, and she is the first in a series of six - po-
tentially up to ten - gearless ‘Bangkokmax’ ships that SITC will re-
ceive from Huanghai.

The SITC CHANGDE is 171.90 m long and 28.40 m (eleven rows)

wide. The vessel has plugs for 258 reefer containers.

Powered by an MAN B&W 6S 60ME-C10 main engine that develops

11,800 kW, the ship has a service speed of up to 18.5 knots

SITC’s new ship has started commercial service on the ‘VTX1’ Japan -
China - Vietnam - Thailand loop, which is operated with a fleet of four
‘Bangkokmax’ ships on a 28-day round trip.

Dae Sun delivers the PEGASUS DREAM (961 teu)

South Korea’s Dong Young Shipping recently took delivery of the 961
teu container vessel PEGASUS DREAM from its compatriot shipyard
Dae Sun.

The small gearless ship is the first of two ‘Dae Sun 1000 Mk-II’ sis-

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ters that shipyard is building for the Korean regional line. Dong Young
ordered the pair in early 2022 for a reported price of USD 22 M per
unit.

The PEGASUS DREAM is 146.50 m long and 23.60 m wide. The ves-
sel is powered by a MAN B&W 6 S46ME-B8.3 main engine that devel-
ops 6,290 kW and drives the ship at speeds of up to 18 knots.

Dong Young has chosen to deploy its latest vessel on its ‘Korea - Hai-
phong Express’ service ‘BKH’ (see details), a loop that calls Incheon,
Kwangyang, Busan, Haiphong, Xiamen, Incheon with three ships on a
21-day round trip.

Seaspan returns to yards with orders for ten box ships

The world’s largest tonnage provider in the container ship sector, the
multi-national Seaspan Corporation, has returned to the yards after
abstaining from placing container ship orders for almost three years.
Seaspan reportedly ordered ten newbuildings on the back of charter
commitments from ONE (6) and Maersk (4).

Seaspan is believed to have signed contracts for six LNG-dual fuel

vessels of 13,000 teu with Hudong-Zhonghua, which the tonnage
provider has reportedly fixed on long-term charter to Ocean Network
Express (ONE).

The carrier, which is also a major shareholder in Seaspan, is current-

ly building an armada of compact ‘NPX’ ships in the 13,000 teu size
class, with 32 such vessels already on order. These include 15 ships
from Imabari, five ships from Hyundai Heavy, six ships from YZJ and
six ships from CSSC Jiangnan.

The Japanese- and Korean-built units are designated as methanol–

and ammonia ‘ready’, whereas the Chinese-built ships will be metha-
nol dual-fuel vessels.

At the beginning of this year, ONE agreed to pay USD 165 M for each
of the 13,000 teu vessels from CSSC, but prices have increased by
almost 10%, so that Seaspan would have to pay around USD 180 M
per ship for 2027 and 2028 deliveries.

Further to this, Seaspan is said to have signed four contracts for

9,000 teu vessels with Yangzijiang (YZJ). Reportedly earmarked for
Maersk, the ships would come with a methanol-enabled propulsion
system.

Most likely, the four units will be sisters of the six 9,000 teu ships
that Maersk ordered from the same yard in June 2023.

Last year, Maersk agreed to pay USD 115 M for each of the vessels
for deliveries in 2026 and 2027.

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Since then, the price of such tonnage has increased and Seaspan
will likely have to pay up to USD 10 M more for each vessel for deliv-
eries in 2027 and 2028.

X-Press firms four 11,000 teu newbuildings with SWS

Sea Consortium and its liner branch X-Press Feeders continue to ex-
pand their fleet with methanol-ready tonnage. The Singapore-based
group very recently firmed-up orders for four methanol dual-fuel con-
tainer ships of 11,000 teu from CSSC Group’s Shanghai Waigaoqiao
Shipbuilding (SWS).

The quartet’s delivery dates have not been disclosed, but brokerage
sources claim that the vessels are scheduled for completion in the
second half of 2027.
right: This is now the new 11,000 teu
design from Shanghai Waigaoqiao
Shipbuilding will look like.

The image suggests a 300 m ship

with 18 container bays from bow to
stern.

image: SWS

X-Press Feeders disclosed the orders at the occasion of the delivery

of the SWS-built X-PRESS PYXIS, the final ship in a series of ‘SDARI
Sealion 7000’ type vessels that the yard built for the shipping line.

Sea Consortium and X-Press are among the champions of methanol-

powered ship, having recently receive their first ‘green’ vessel, the
1,170 teu ECO MAESTRO.

Technical specifications of the four new vessels have not been dis-
closed, but SWS has provided an illustration that suggests the ships
will be abut 300.00 m long and likely 19 rows wide.

Like many recent designs, the ships will come equipped with a bow
windscreen to reduce aerodynamic resistance.

Marinakis eyes series of LNG-powered 8,000 teu ships

Evangelos Marinakis, the mastermind behind Greece’s non-operating
ship owner Capital Group, is believed to be ‘in talks’ with a Chinese
yard over a new series of LNG-dual fuel container ships of 8,000 teu.

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Pre-Posidonia rumors suggest that Marinakis has already come to an

in-principle agreement with New Times Shipbuilding (NTS, alterna-
tively translated as New Century Shipyard) under which the shipyard
would build up to ten vessels for delivery in 2027 and 2028.

The deal is believed to be contingent on NTS squeezing a few extra

building slots into its tight construction schedule.

LNG-dual fuel ships of the 10,000 teu class would currently cost
around USD 128 M, but a premium for early deliveries starting in
2027 could push this price north of USD 130 M per unit.

Marinakis is expected to place these orders speculatively without the

backing of any charter agreements.

In late 2020, Marinakis speculatively ordered four 13,000 teu high-

reefer ships from South Korea’s Hyundai Samho Shipyard and it later
extended the series to six units.

The ship owner later entered into an agreement with Hapag-Lloyd,

under which the German liner would acquire three of the ships from
Marinakis and commit to long-term charters for the other three.

At the same time, Hapag-Lloyd signed a similar 2+2 agreement with

Chartworld of Greece, thus securing a total of ten ships. The new se-
ries would lend itself to a similar deal, but it is currently not known
whether the Greek owner has already seen interest from a carrier.

Ammonia-powered 3,500 teu ship design receives Ap-

proval in Principle from ABS and LR
The classification societies American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and
Lloyd’s Register (LR), have awarded a new ship design of an ammo-
nia-fueled 3,500 teu container vessel Approval in Principle (AiP).

right: This is now the proposed

3,500 teu container vessel would
look like.

Technical details of the ships have

not been provided yet, but the pic-
ture suggests that the fuel tanks
would be located in the center of the
vessel.

The massive mast on the forecastle

appears to double as an emergency
vent for the tanks, but this has yet to
be confirmed.

image: LR

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VESSELS

In a joint statement, the companies said that a cross-industry task-

force of A. P. Møller-Mærsk, MAN Energy Solutions, Deltamarin, El-
tronic FuelTech, ABS, and LR, and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Cen-
ter for Zero Carbon Shipping came together to jointly develop the new
ship design.

The proposed design is meant to make ammonia propulsion com-

mercially viable and safe. Proponents of the new ship claim that the
new design achieves a hig level of crew safety, despite the potentially
toxic fuel, while at the same time minimizing loss of cargo capacity.

A 4,000 cubic meter ammonia tank was selected so that the ship will
have an adequate endurance to perform a full round trip on most
services typically staffed with tonnage of this capacity.

The proposed vessel would be 212.00 m long, and 35.00 m (14

rows) wide, and its main engine would develop some 18,500 kW.

With these dimensions, the ship is one 40-foot bay longer than a
compact modern container vessel of similar intake. The extra space
is for the large Ammonia fuel tank.

So far, Ammonia has not gained a lot of traction in the market yet,
but it is widely seen as 'the next option' when it comes to 'green'
fuels.

The Belgian ship owner Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB) earlier this
year ordered two Ammonia-powered 1,400 teu vessels for Yara and
North Sea Container Line (NCL) and Maersk, which is a partner in the
3,500 teu project, already said that it would consider Ammonia for its
next orders in this size class.

Further to this, Ocean Network Express (ONE) and Japan's Nihon

Shipyard, are also working on an Ammonia-project.

above: Seaspan and Technolog

have also developed a new feeder
design that will come prepared for a
later conversion to Ammoia fuel.

right: Ocean Network Express (ONE)

and Nihon Shipyard (NSY) have
teamed up to explore ammonia as
an alternative marine fuel for con-
tainer ships.

The Singapore-based carrier and the

Japanese shipyard group, a joint
venture of Imabari and JMU, earlier
this year received ‚Approval in Prin-
ciple‘ for such a ship type from the
classification society DNV.

image: Nihon Shipyard

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PORTS & TERMINALS

Liebherr supplies new cranes to Clydeport Greenock

Liebherr will this month deliver two brand new ship-to-shore contain-
er cranes to the Greenock Ocean Terminal in Scotland. The new quay
gantries were manufactured in western Ireland and assembled on a
pier at the Irish port of Cork.

The first completed unit was then loaded aboard the heavy-lift cargo
vessel JUMBO JUBILEE, operated under the umbrella of the ‘JSI Alli-
ance’ which comprised Jumbo Shipping, SAL and Intermarine.

The mid-sized crane was then shipped from Cork to Greenock over
the weekend. At the Greenock Ocean Terminal, the new gantries will
replace a number of aging smaller ship-to-shore cranes.
above: JSI Alliance’s JUMBO JUBI-
LEE at Cork. The heavy-lift vessel
is about to load the first of two new
ship-to-shore cranes for Greenock.

The JUMBO JUBILEE will make two

round trips between Ireland and
Scotland, carrying one crane on
each voyage.

photo: JSI Alliance

right: A day after leaving Ireland,

the JUMBO JUBILEE delivered the
first crane to Peel Port’s Clydeport
container terminal at Greenock.

photo: Peel Ports

Operated by Peel Port, the Greenock Ocean Terminal is used by CMA

CGM, MSC, BG Freight, Unifeeder, COSCO and X-Press Feeders.

The majority of vessels that call at Greenock are in the 800 to 1,500
teu size range, but the terminal also handles one much larger capaci-
ty service.

Greenock sees weekly calls of the MSC-operated Turkey - UK West

Coast loop, which deploys five ships in the 4,000 to 5,000 teu size
class.

‘Megamax’ MSC ANNA: new record ship on Western

Coast of India and Pakistan
Last week, the 19,368 teu MSC ANNA became the largest container
vessel ever to call the ports of Mundra, Karachi and Nhava Sheva
respectively.

At 399.98 m long and 58.60 m wide, it has since become the largest
ship ever to sail into the Western Coast of India and Pakistan.

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PORTS & TERMINALS

MSC ANNA has become the first-ever megamax vessel to call at Kara-
chi. It also overtakes the 18,500 teu MSC HAMBURG to become the
largest vessel to call at Mundra and Nhava Sheva.

The vessel was handled at Karachi’s South Asia Pakistan Terminal

(SAPT), a facility operated by Hutchison Port Holding, and at Nhava
Sheva’s PSA-operated Bharat Mumbai Container Terminals (BMCT,
aka PSA Mumbai) and at Mundra’s south basin AICTPL (aka CT3, a
joint venture of Adani and TIL).
right: The MSC ANNA arrives at the
port of Mundra in Northwest India.

The photo nicely illustrates the

ship’s deep draft, despite a moder-
ate container deck load.

Typically, many cargoes on the

trade lanes to and from India are
quite heavy, which is where the
massive deadweight of this
‘megamax’ ship will come in handy.

photo: Adani Ports

In Q4 2023, Adani’s Mundra port received a complete order of four

new ship-to-shore gantries for its terminals. All four of the new cranes
have a ‘megamax’ dimension with an outreach of 68.00 m and a lift
height of 50.00 m above the rails. The CT3 terminal has a quay
length of 1,450 m and an annual capacity of 3.10 Mteu, making it
the largest container terminal at Mundra.

In addition to the Adani terminals AMCT, AICTPL and ACMT (CT2, CT3
and CT4 respectively), Mundra is also home to the DP World-
operated MICT (CT1). A fifth container terminal is currently under de-
The Megamax-fleet velopment.

The global fleet of ‘megamax’ contain- With fairly similar throughput volumes in the past few years, Mundra
er vessels at the end of last month
breached the 4.00 Mteu mark in terms and Mumbai-Nhava Sheva are India’s first and second-ranked con-
of overall capacity. tainer ports by a wide margin.
Today, ‘MGX’ ships dominate the Asia
- Europe/Med trade lane where 179 of The 400-meter ship MSC ANNA will join the weekly Far East – India –
the 186 ships are in service. California service ‘Sentosa Shikra’ in Qingdao as of 24 April. As of
Combined, they make up 3.88 Mteu of
that date, MSC ANNA will only participate in the Far East – India leg
the slot capacity on this route corri- of the service.
dor, about 54% of the 7.20 Mteu over-
all capacity deployment. The 19,368 teu MSC VIVIANA, sister vessel of MSC ANNA, has also
For an in-depth review of the joined the Sentosa Shikra service as of 19 May in Busan and will fol-
‘megamax’ market, pls have a look at low the same leg of the service. MSC VIVIANA is expected to call at
last week’s Alphaliner Newsletter.
Mundra on 16 June.

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