8,063-TEU OOCL London named at Samsung`s Geoje yard

HONG KONG`S Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) named its 15th SX class vessel the OOCL London, the second to last of 16 SX class vessels on order from Samsung Heavy Industries.
The 8,063-TEU ship will be deployed on the EU Loop C service in response to demand on the Asia-Europe trade on the following rotation: Rotterdam, Hamburg, Southampton, Singapore, Shenzhen-Shekou, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Ningbo, Shanghai, Xiamen, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Shenzhen-Shekou, Singapore, Port Kelang, Southampton and back to Rotterdam in a 70-day round trip.
The naming was attended by sponsor Lady Rebecca Jane Purves, wife of Sir William Purves, former group chairman of HSBC, as well as OOCL parent company, OOIL Group, CEO CC Tung at Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard on Geoje Island. Also attending were IS Roh, Samsung Heavy Industries president and CEO and president and shipyard general manager and SY Bae.
Said Mr Tung: "We are pleased to see that after a very tough year for the container shipping industry in 2009, demand seems to be recovering, albeit tentatively. However, many uncertainties remain and the industry is still looking at a tremendous capacity overhang," he said. "It could be three to four years before the supply and demand balance reaches equilibrium. We will continue to listen to our customers` needs and provide sufficient tonnage to cover demand."