New containerships have been delivered to owners from Singapore, South Korea, and France. Orders have also been placed for methanol-ready vessels to be built in South Korea and China for operation by European companies.
Singapore shipping company X-Press Feeders recently took delivery of its newest vessel, the methanol-fuelled Eco Umande. Although the vessel was completed by China's New Dayang Shipbuilding earlier this year, it remained in the country for its propulsion system to be modified to allow operation on both methanol and conventional fuel.
The ship has capacity for 1,170 TEUs. Design work was undertaken by German engineering firm Technolog.
South Korean shipping company HMM has taken delivery of a new containership built by Hanwha Ocean. HMM Ruby has already commenced operational sailings on HMM's Pacific South Express Service to and from the United States.
The newbuild has capacity for 13,000 TEUs. The propulsion system can be configured in the future for operation on LNG fuel.
German shipping line Peter Döhle Schiffahrts has placed an order for four containerships in a series to be built by China's Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding. The 336-metre-long vessels will each have capacity for 14,000 TEUs and methanol-ready propulsion systems.
The vessels will also be fitted with exhaust gas aftertreatment systems and other energy-saving features. Deliveries are scheduled for the 2026-2027 timeframe.
French shipping company the CMA CGM Group has taken delivery of a new container vessel built by HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea. CMA CGM Tivoli is the fourth in a new series of ten containerships powered by LNG and featuring a new hull design developed to improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
The newbuild has its superstructure, along with the bridge and the accommodation spaces, placed at the front. This arrangement ensures better aerodynamic performance and higher loading capacity compared to a vessel of conventional architecture.
The vessel has a length of 204.29 metres (670.24 feet), a beam of 29.6 metres (97.1 feet), and capacity for 2,000 TEUs. The ship can also load 45-foot containers that can be loaded on trailers.
South Korea's HJ Shipbuilding and Construction (HJSC) has won orders for two containerships from an undisclosed shipping company in Europe for delivery in 2026. The contract also includes options for two additional sister vessels.
The vessels will each have a length of 272 metres and capacity for 7,900 TEUs. The ships will also be optimised for fuel efficiency and maximum container capacity, incorporating eco-friendly features and complying with IMO environmental regulations.
The newbuildings will be equipped with a SOx exhaust gas aftertreatment systems to meet IMO regulations regarding sulphur oxides. These vessels will be constructed as methanol-ready, allowing for potential transition to carbon-neutral operations in the future by using methanol as a fuel.
