Maersk introduces first customised West Africa boxship

The first unit in a series of 22 West Africa max (Wafmax) container vessels, currently being built by Hyundai Heavy Industries in Korea, was delivered earlier this year. Named after the capital of Guinea, Maersk Conakry and the 21 other Wafmax vessels on order from Hyundai will be the largest container ships able to call West Africa. The vessels are to be delivered this year and in 2012.

The Wafmax class was designed by the shipbuilder in co-operation with Maersk. They are claimed to be the most fuel-efficient, using 30% less fuel per container moved than the industry average on the Asia-Africa trade.

The main propulsion plant consists of a Hyundai-built MAN B&W 6S80ME-C9 low-speed diesel engine with an output of 23,000kW MCR at 78rpm driving an 8.60m diameter HHI five-bladed FP propeller for a service speed of 21 knots. Auxiliary engines comprise two 3,000kVA HHI model HFJ7 716-84K and one 2,200kVA HHI model HFJ7 638-84K. The newbuilding is equipped with a waste heat recovery system, saving up to 10% of main engine power.

Manoeuvrability is achieved by means of two Kawasaki thrusters (one KT-157B5 bow thruster and one KT-130B3 stern thruster) in addition to a HHI semi-balanced rudder. Hyundai also provided the integrated bridge system.

Once a market served entirely by small feeder vessels operating from hubs like Algeciras, Spain, the 4,500TEU Wafmax vessels are purpose-built to provide Maersk Line’s Asian customers with direct services to West African ports. The 61,600dwt ships are 249.10m long with a draught of 13.5m, the maximum size allowable in West African ports. Some of the vessels will be equipped with four 50tonne SWL Liebherr deck cranes to enable calls at ports without standing cranes.

These vessels, when fully deployed, are aimed at cementing Maersk Line’s leading position in the African market. The growth of the African market, combined with physical infrastructure not developing at the same speed, has created a demand for ships with special designs that are able to match the maximum capacity of the ports.

Principal dimensions

Deadweight: 61,614dwt at 13.5m draught
Gross tonnage: 50,869tons
Length overall: 249.10m
Beam: 37.40m
Draught: 13.50m
Carrying capacity: 4,500TEU
Reefer capacity: 150 plugs
Main engine: 1 x 23MW HHI-built MAN B&W 6S80ME-C9 low- speed diesel engine
Auxiliary engines: 2 x 3,000kVA HHI model HFJ7 716-84K
1 x 2,200kVA HHI model HFJ7 638-84K