14,000 TEU ONE Aquila Joins ONE’s Magenta Fleet

Ocean Network Express (ONE) has taken delivery of its third magenta coloured containership, the 14,000 TEU ONE Aquila.

The vessel was built by Kure Shipyard of Japan Marine United Corporation. The ship’s sublet owner is Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK), one of the three founders of ONE, the other two being K Line and MOL.

“The vessel employs a hull form that allows improved cargo-loading efficiency achieved by minimized engine-room space.” ONE said announcing the delivery.

“Moreover, the vessel applies the duel system in its main engine which is capable to choose two other output ranges (high and low) that allows flexible operation and improved fuel-consumption rate, resulting in a significant reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. The navigation bridge has adopted the Integrated Navigation System (INS) which consolidates functions of vessel systems.”

The vessel joins 14,000 TEU-class vessel ONE Minato and the 8,542 TEU ONE Commitment, which were handed over to their owner in July and May 2018, respectively.

ONE Minato was built by Imabari shipbuilding while ONE Commitment, previously known as MOL’s Postpanamax containership MOL Commitment, underwent a makeover in Singapore, becoming the first boxship of the brand to boast the color.

ONE Aquila will phase in THE Alliance’s Asia to North America (West Coast) PN3 service with its port rotation Hong Kong, Yantian, Ningbo, Shanghai, Pusan, Prince Rupert, Vancouver, Seattle, Pusan, Kwangyang, and Hong Kong.

CMA-CGM launches new active controlled atmosphere CLIMACTIVE reefer containers

In line with Asia Fruit Logistica 2018 in Hong Kong, CMA CGMhas launched its CLIMACTIVE solution, which it claims is the most advanced technology for the transportation of highly sensitive fruits and vegetables by active controlled atmosphere.

Equipped with DAIKIN Active controlled atmosphere system, CMA CGM says CLIMACTIVE is the latest and most advanced solution to maintain sensitive commodities’ freshness to destination, by faster reducing the level of oxygen inside the container. The solution is created for highly sensitive commodities that require special attention due to their biological specificities and maturation time. These include high added value products, long transit time products, and organic products.

This technology allows businesses to optimize their competitive attractiveness by maintaining the products’ freshness up to final destination, preventing the maturation process, extend their shelf life and preserve the products’ quality attributes. It also allows businesses to expand by reaching further destinations and target news markets and also has the advantage of being able to allow businesses to maintain their products’ organic label.

A nitrogen pump creates a real barrier against oxygen infiltration, protecting the cargo from excessive ripening and enables CLIMACTIVE to reach the optimal level of O2 and CO2 much faster. Temperature, humidity and balance between gases are also very precisely regulated, allowing optimal preservation and protection of highly sensitive commodities.

CMA CGM Group is the world’s second largest refrigerated container carrier with a reefer container fleet of 385,000 teu and 288,000 reefer plugs.

Other players are also investing heavily in this lucrative and growing market.

MSC to lease 2,000 SeaCube containers

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is to lease 2,000 containers from SeaCube Containers that are chilled by Carrier Transicold's innovative, natural refrigerant-based NaturaLINE refrigeration system.

The NaturaLINE refrigeration units use carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, which has a much lower global warming potential (GWP) than other refrigerants. In addition to their environmental benefits, Giuseppe Prudente, chief logistics officer at MSC, said the units provide a "higher level of performance in the minus 40 degrees Celsius deep-frozen range. We can add new capabilities for our growing customer base, particularly for seafood and other high-value frozen commodities."

Previously, minus 40 degrees Celsius was only attainable in container systems using a refrigerant with a GWP nearly 4,000 times higher reports American Shipper.

Hapag-Lloyd Christens 15,000 TEU Boxship in Rotterdam

German shipping major Hapag-Lloyd has christened its 15,000 TEU ship Al Jmeliyah in Rotterdam on September 11.

The ultra large container vessel (ULCV), which has ten sister vessels, was built in 2016 for the United Arab Shipping Company (UASC). UASC merged with Hapag-Lloyd in May 2017.

The boxship is 385.5 meters long and 51 meters wide and is one of Hapag-Lloyd’s 17 so-called LNG-ready ships that are technically equipped to use liquefied natural gas. It was manufactured by Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries in South Korea.

Al Jmeliyah operates in the FE4 service, the Far East 4 loop. Departing from Rotterdam, it sails to Hamburg, Antwerp, Southampton, Yantian, Shanghai, Busan, Ningbo, and Shanghai before heading back to Europe.

This was not the first time that Hapag-Lloyd has christened a ship in Rotterdam. The most recent one was the christening of the Rotterdam Express in 2000.

“With its 4,890 TEU, it was enormous for the time,” said Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen.

Source: World Maritime News, Vietnam Shipping Gazzette