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Viability of extending 14,000-TEU ships to 16,000-TEUers tempts owners
TO keep up with mega ships their mouth-watering economies of scale, some smaller owners are considering ways of lengthen their 14,000-TEU ships into 16,000 TEUers, reports Lloyd's List.
Some carriers are close to deciding to extend their ships, said class society business manager at Lloyd's Register, David Tozer, who added that it is possible to lengthen a post-panamaxes while maintaining hull strength.
A new 16,000 TEU or 18,000 TEU ship would currently cost US$130 million, with delivery unlikely before 2015, whereas a ship can be extended within weeks, he says.
At present there are just 15 ships of 14,500 TEU or more in service, compared to 115 vessels in the 13,000 - 14,499 TEU range.
Lengthening hulls is not a new concept. Maersk is believed to have designed ships built at its former shipyard in Odense with the ability to extend them at a later date, said the report.
It is unclear whether Maersk's 18,270 TEU Triple-E vessels can be extended, but two additional 40-foot bays would boost capacity to 20,100 TEU the length to 425 metres, while four extra 40-foot bays would extend the length to 454 metres and raise capacity to 21,800 TEU.
The P3 vessel sharing alliance members, Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Co and CMA CGM, have already mentioned containerships of 19,200 TEU in their filing to the US Federal Maritime Commission.
Some carriers are close to deciding to extend their ships, said class society business manager at Lloyd's Register, David Tozer, who added that it is possible to lengthen a post-panamaxes while maintaining hull strength.
A new 16,000 TEU or 18,000 TEU ship would currently cost US$130 million, with delivery unlikely before 2015, whereas a ship can be extended within weeks, he says.
At present there are just 15 ships of 14,500 TEU or more in service, compared to 115 vessels in the 13,000 - 14,499 TEU range.
Lengthening hulls is not a new concept. Maersk is believed to have designed ships built at its former shipyard in Odense with the ability to extend them at a later date, said the report.
It is unclear whether Maersk's 18,270 TEU Triple-E vessels can be extended, but two additional 40-foot bays would boost capacity to 20,100 TEU the length to 425 metres, while four extra 40-foot bays would extend the length to 454 metres and raise capacity to 21,800 TEU.
The P3 vessel sharing alliance members, Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Co and CMA CGM, have already mentioned containerships of 19,200 TEU in their filing to the US Federal Maritime Commission.
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