E.R. Schiffahrt trio named

Three container ships were named by E.R. Schiffahrt earlier this week at the three Hyundai shipyards in South Korea. These latest newbuildings are part of the planned expansion programme by E.R. Schiffahrt, a subsidiary of the Hamburg-based Nordcapital Group, which will see another 22 container ships, all built by Hyundai, come into service by the end of 2007.

The latest newbuilding deliveries comprise of ?E.R. Beijing?, a Panamax Class vessel with a capacity of 5,075 TEU, the 2,842TEU ?E.R. Manchester? and the ?E.R. Calais?.

The ?E.R. Calais? will operate for five years under the charter name ?CMA CGM L’Astrolabe? for the French shipping line CMA CGM on the ASAX express service from Asia via South Africa to South America. In total, the ?French Line? will charter four vessels of this series from E.R. Schiffahrt. These sister ships have a speed of 22 knots, are equipped with their own loading gear, and have a very high reefer container capacity (600 reefer plugs).

Following a one-month interim charter for P&O Nedlloyd, the ?E.R. Manchester? will operate for eight years under the name of ?Kota Pekarang? on charter for the Pacific International Lines (PIL) in service between the Asia-Pacific region, South-East Asia and the Middle East. The ? E.R. Beijing? will operate for a ten-year period as ?ZIM Beijing? for ZIM Israel Navigation Company, initially in ?All Water Services? from the Asia-Pacific region to the East Coast of North America, right through to the Mediterranean.