A newbuild, eco-friendly, multi-purpose ship with container-capacity has been deployed by Swire Shipping onto the south east Asia / Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands trade.
The Changsha, a 2,400 twenty-foot equivalent unit ship, is part of an eight-strong order of ships from the CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Company, that are scheduled for delivery this year.
Dimensions and cargo capacity
The 30,400 deadweight vessels have been designed for the Pacific Island trade. They have high capacity (1,860 TEU at 14 tonnes), dimensions of 186 metres length overall, 32.2 metres breadth and 10.5 metres draught. The intent is that Swire can offer its customers “the lowest” slot costs in the Pacific import markets.
These ships won’t just be used to carry containers though. They are equipped with three cranes that have a capacity of 45 tonnes and which can be used in a tandem lift for cargoes weighing up to 90 tonnes.
The ships have non-containerised cargo capabilities with 75 tonne safe working limit stoppers, lashing eyes and tank top strengthening to 20 tonnes per square metre on two of its holds. The pontoon weather-tight hatch covers have been reinforced to take heavy loads of up to five tonnes per square metre on deck.
The vessels also have a “unique” hull-form that will provide greater fuel efficiency than in designs from previous years.
“Despite the uniquely challenging period the world faces, this deployment looks towards a brighter future and shows Swire Shipping’s strong and continuing commitment to the region,” reads a statement from the company.
Vital supply chains must remain open
Jeremy Sutton, the general manager, of Swire Shipping added, “like many other companies, we are very concerned about the global situation over CoVid19. However, we are also cognisant that vital supply chains must remain open with as little disruption as possible. The economies and livelihoods of the Pacific region are heavily reliant on seaborne trade. Our purpose as a company is to enrich lives by connecting our customers with the communities of the Pacific. The addition of MV Changsha and the remaining newbuilding vessels will enable us to achieve this and show our long-term commitment to our customers and the region”.
Upon deployment, the eight newbuild container vessels will join a fleet that includes eight 31,000 deadweight and 2,118 TEU multipurpose vessels (the “S Class”) and four 22,000 deadweight and 1,627 TEU multipurpose vessels ( the “Chief Class”) which were delivered between 2013 and 2015.
The eight-ship order is part of a fleet renewal programme that began five years ago. So far, eleven ships have been sustainably recycled at approved ship recycling facilities under the Hong Kong Convention. The remaining three were sold for onward trading.
