NOL to buy ten 14,000 TEU ships, two 9,000 TEUers from Korea

SINGAPORE`s Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) has announced it has signed deals to buy 12 new containerships from Korea`s Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. Ten of the ships will be 14,000-TEU while two will have a capacity of 9,200-TEU.

NOL said the 14,000-TEUers would be the carrier`s largest and most fuel efficient, which will be deployed in its Asia-Europe strings. Besides, the 9,200-TEU vessels will be deployed in the transpacific loops.


The carrier said it is upgrading the 2010 Daewoo order from the original of ten 8,400-TEU vessels to the enhanced 9,200-TEU ships that are designed with more sophisticated technology.


"The total consideration for the new vessels and upgrades would be about US$1.54 billion. The ships are scheduled for delivery in 2013 and 2014," said the company statement.


"We are investing in new, larger vessels to reduce unit capital and operating costs, meet future growth needs and replace older and smaller chartered vessels that will be returned to their owners in the charter market," said a company statement.


So after deliveries, the new vessels, featuring less fuel consumption and better environmental protection, will enable APL, NOL`s container unit, to offer more efficient and reliable service to its customers, the company said.