Hanjin adds nine more large boxships

Hanjin Shipping in South Korea has ordered five more Post-Panamax 8,600 TEU container ships from Hyundai Heavy Industries to upgrade its current main fleet consisting of four 5,000 TEU ships. Hanjin is the first Korean company to own five container ships of 10,000TEU level, ordered last year.

In addition, Hanjin has placed orders with HHI for two Cape-sized and two Panamax-sized bulk carriers. Two ships will be ordered at a Japanese shipbuilder later this month.

Hanjin Shipping has been expanding its major fleet line up to actively respond to the needs in mega sized vessels worldwide. The company has deployed five vessels of 8,000TEU level on the USA routes in late 2005. It ordered eight newbuildings of 6,500TEU-grade in 2003 and 2004 to deploy on Asia-Europe routes in July last year.

As the 10,000TEU newbuildings ordered last year are scheduled to be deployed from early 2010, the additional five newbuilding ordered today will operate on the European strings along with the five 8,000TEU-class-ships currently servicing on the USA routes to rationalize fleet operations and upgrade customer service.