Container liners expanding capacities at a fast pace

Maersk Line continues to lead the global container shipping trade, with a market share of 16.4%, according to the latest statistics as produced on a daily basis by Paris-based AXS Marine.

As of the 20th of June, there were 6,004 ships active on liner trades, for 12,406,864 TEU and 169,671,755 TDW. To the above figures are included 4,485 fully cellular ships for 11,648,037 TEU. The total existing cellular fleet (all sizes / all positions) stands at 4,506 ships for 11,678,934 TEU. There are 11 cellular ships over 1,000 TEU for 22,630 TEU which are inactive (either awaiting employment or laid up or damaged). According to data from AXS Marine, APM-Maersk tops the list of container liners, controlling, or operating 546 ships with a total capacity of 2,028,713 TEUs. The company’s orderbook includes 82 ships of 396,585 TEUs, which represents 19.5% of the Maersk’s capacity in terms of TEUs. Also, the company charters 351 out of 546 ships. The second largest liner is Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC), which has a fleet of 401 ships of 1,303,580 TEUs. MSC owns 220 of these 401, while the remaining 181 are chartered. As for its orderbook it stands at 54 vessels with a total capacity of 598,693 TEUs, i.e. 45.9% of its current capacity. But the most aggressive company in the newbuilding scene appears to be China’s Cosco Container Lines, with has on order 73 ships of 527,803 TEUs, which represents 115.9% of its current capacity, standing at 455,541 TEUs, divided into 148 ships, 98 of which are owned, while the rest are chartered. Cosco is currently the sixth largest liner in the world.

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Shell freezes Beaufort start-up

Anglo-Dutch supermajor Shell said that it is delaying drilling on its Sivulliq prospect in the Beaufort Sea off northern Alaska for a year because of an environmental lawsuit.

The company, which spent $44 million on leases in the area in 2005, had planned to begin drilling at the prospect later this year. A group of environmentalists filed a lawsuit with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco to stop the drilling project due to concerns about its impact on marine mammals.

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Scania delivers the engines to Finnish Border Guard's new vessels

Scania's twelve-litre engines will be used in 13 vessels, which Marine AluTech will deliver to the Finnish Border Guard.

In early June, the Finnish Border Guard signed an agreement with Marine Alutech concerning the delivery of 13 Watercat 1300 Patrol vessels during 2009 and 2011. The two 12-litre Scania engines of 478kW and water jet propulsion give the vessel a top speed of over 40 knots. The concept is the ideal solution for border patrolling, sea rescue and other activities performed by authorities, such as the Finnish Border Guard and Sea Rescue Society.

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IHC Merwede opens new branch in Dordrecht

IHC Merwede has opened a new branch in Dordrecht, The Netherlands.

As a result of the rapid growth of IHC Parts & Services, the production halls in Kinderdijk were over-full and expansion was necessary. The new location in Dordrecht will concentrate exclusively on the production and delivery of stop valves, a part for dredging vessels that regulates the flow of dredged material on board. The valves vary from 1.5 to 6 metres high and they can weigh as much as 10,000kg and more. The new branch consists of two linked halls measuring 290 square metres and 400 square metres, and a large outside area where the office units are also located. Thirteen people are at work at this branch at present.
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Containership Launched in Germany

The christening ceremony for the first of a series of three 2,700 TEU container ships took place on June 20 in Kiel at HDW-Gaarden, a company of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.

All three ships are ordered by the Buss Group. The Donau Trader officially got her name from the godmother Brunhild Buss, the wife of Hermann Buss, Managing Partner of the Buss Group. The Donau Trader will be initially operated by the shipping line Hamburg Süd. The ship will leave the shipyard on Monday, June 23, to be employed worldwide. The container ship has been built in compliance with the rules and regulations of Germanischer Lloyd.

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Containership Launched in Germany

The christening ceremony for the first of a series of three 2,700 TEU container ships took place on June 20 in Kiel at HDW-Gaarden, a company of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.

All three ships are ordered by the Buss Group. The Donau Trader officially got her name from the godmother Brunhild Buss, the wife of Hermann Buss, Managing Partner of the Buss Group. The Donau Trader will be initially operated by the shipping line Hamburg Süd. The ship will leave the shipyard on Monday, June 23, to be employed worldwide. The container ship has been built in compliance with the rules and regulations of Germanischer Lloyd.

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Daehan Shipbuilding christens its first vessel

Daehan Shipbuilding has celebrated today the christening of its first vessel at its shipyard located in Haenam, Korea.

This 170,500dwt vessel, which is 289m L.O.A. and 45m beam, is the first in the series of eight capesize bulk carriers ordered from the Norwegian Golden Ocean Group in November 2006. It shall be delivered to the owner on June 27th since its keel-laying ceremony was held back to August 2007. Currently the second vessel is completed up to 70% and shall be delivered at the end of August. Daehan Shipbuilding's second block factory, Taejon Heavy Industries, capable of producing 150,000 tons of blocks annually, shall start its operation from the end of July. The company believes that having this second factory will help supply itself with 250,000 tons of blocks every year. Daehan Shipbuilding has received refund guarantees for a total of 19 capesizes.

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