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CMA CGM Takes Delivery of Its Largest Boxship
French container shipping giant CMA CGM has taken delivery of CMA CGM Antoine de Saint Exupery, a 20,600 TEU containership, from Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction – Philippines (HHIC-Phil) shipyard.
The completion ceremony for the ultra large container vessel (ULCV) was held at HHIC-Phil’s Subic facility on January 25.
Featuring a length of 400 meters and a width of 59 meters, CMA CGM Antoine de Saint Exupery can transport up to 20,950 units of 40-foot shipping containers. The containers, when lined up, would reach a length of 12.5 kilometers.
What is more, the ship’s deck is as big as four football fields, according to HHIC-Phil.
The newbuilding is the first of three 20,600 TEU class ULCVs to be delivered by HHIC-Phil to CMA CGM following the signing of the newbuilding contract in April 2015.
The 197,500 dwt ship was launched in August 2017 and it successfully underwent sea trials in December 2017.
K Line, NYK and Partners Eye LNG Bunkering in Japan
Japan’s shipping majors K Line and NYK Line have launched joint discussions with two compatriots on establishing an LNG bunkering business in Japan.
Namely, K Line and NYK Line, together with electric utilities provider Chubu Electric Power and trading company Toyota Tsusho Corporation, are looking to commercialize a new business to supply liquefied natural gas as a marine fuel to ships in the country’s Chubu region.
The four companies will jointly discuss specific LNG customers and supply methods in preparation for the commercialization of LNG bunkering business.
The talks were launched on the back of expectations that LNG would become an important alternative to heavy fuel oil due to its relatively low emissions of air polluting substances and greenhouse gases.
Compared to heavy fuel oil, the use of LNG can reduce emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter by 100%, nitrogen oxides (NOx) by as much as 80%, and carbon dioxide (CO2) by some 30%, K Line said.
As such, LNG would enable ships to meet increasingly stringent international regulations on emissions.
HMM Sets Up Ultra-Freezer Service
South Korean shipping company Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) has started its first ‘Ultra-Freezer’ service from Busan, Korea, to Barcelona, Spain.
As informed, HMM has become the only ultra-freezer service provider from Korea. Currently, only Maersk Line and CMA CGM provide such services.
“This ultra-freezer service will do much to advance HMM’s … technology in reefer container management,” an official from HMM said.
Ultra-freezer service refers to transportation of goods in – 60ºC, which are above the limit of regular reefer containers (– 35ºC to -40ºC). High technology and skilled personnel are
also needed in the ultra-freezer service, as ultra-freezer containers need to maintain the very low temperature during shifting, loading, and discharging process. Due to such reasons, freight rates of ultra-freezer service are 4 to 8 times higher than regular reefer containers.
The company will provide ultra-freezer services on the following routes: Busan (Korea) – Barcelona (Spain), Busan (Korea) – Shimizu (Japan), and Algeciras (Spain) – Yokohama (Japan).
Additionally, HMM said it completed its pilot operation of Internet of Things (IoT) technology on reefer containers in August last year. With the IoT technology, cargo status will be checked and managed live on-time. Combining the blockchain technology with the IoT technology will also expand the range of IT system in shipping industry, according to HMM.
MSC Launching RO-RO Service to West Africa
Switzerland-based container shipping major Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is introducing a new RO-RO West Africa Service for rolling, project and breakbulk cargo.
This new RO-RO Service to West Africa will start on February 19 from Le Havre, the company said.
Two vessels will be deployed, MSC Immacolata and MSC Cristiana, operating on a fortnight basis with the following rotation: Le Havre, Antwerp, Dakar, Conakry, Abidjan, Le Havre.
“In addition to rolling or wheeled cargo this new service offering will have the flexibility to cover a range of out-of-gauge and breakbulk cargo, which will be typically large, heavy pieces, or critical equipment for specific projects,” MSC added.
MSC has been serving African markets since 1971 and has a considerable agency presence across more than 40 countries.
Source: World Maritime News
