HHI wins order for big container ships

German container ship specialist Hapag-Lloyd has gone to Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in Korea for four 7,200 TEU post-panamax vessels.

The first of the ships will be delivered in the third quarter of next year. This latest newbuilding programme by Hapag-Lloyd follows hard on the heels of orders for a total of 18 smaller, 4,800 TEU vessels, and is due to be completed in early 2003.

All four ships will be assigned to trades within the Grand Alliance, of which Hapag-Lloyd is a member. At 320m in length with a beam of 42.8m they will carry containers 17 abreast.