MOL orders a dozen post-Panamax containerships

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, (MOL) has placed orders for an additional 12 new post-Panamax containerships to upgrade its fleet. Four of the newbuildings are 8,100TEU with a speed of 25 knots and will be built at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries with deliveries scheduled for 2007/2008. The other eight ordered will have a 6,350TEU capacity, a service speed of 25.5 knots and will be built at Imabari Shipbuilding. Four ships will be delivered in 2005, two in 2006 and the last pair in 2007/2008.

When the new ships are delivered, MOL will have 13 containerships in the 6,350 TEU range, including five existing vessels and these ships will serve as the core of the company’s liner fleet on east-west services. The 8,100 TEU ships will serve Asia-Europe routes, taking full advantage of their increased capacity. With this fleet expansion, MOL?s fleet will consist of 25 post-Panamax containerships by 2008, while the containership fleet will reach a total of 77 vessels.