Japan delivers its largest boxship

The largest container ship ever to have been built in Japan was taken into service today as the ?P&O Nedlloyd Mondriaan?. With a length of 335 metres, a width of 42.80 metres and a draught of 14 metres, this 7,500TEU newbuilding is the first of a series of eight units, and will be managed by the Blue Star shipping company of Hamburg.

Built at the shipyard IHI Marine United in Kure under the supervision of GL, the new ship has a ?one-man control console? installed on the bridge which provides for extensive automation of the ship?s handling functions. The design of the ship was calculated and checked by GL in accordance with the provisions of “Rational Ship Design” (RSD). An overall strength analysis and thorough examination were also performed by GL which led to special solutions being implemented for certain details of the ship making it possible to waive the intermediate docking which would normally be obligatory after two and a half years.