Hapag-Lloyd expanding fleet

Hapag-Lloyd Container Line has signed a contract to charter, long-term, four large containerships in order to increase its in global container transport.

The newbuildings will be delivered between the end of 2003 and the beginning of 2004 to respond to the between five and six per cent annual growth of container traffic resulting from the general expansion of trade and the continuing containerisation of conventional general cargo.

The 85,000-ton, 6,750-TEU vessels will be 300 metres long and 40 metres wide, with a service speed of 26 knots. They will operate in the Europe-Asia service of the Grand Alliance.

Hapag-Lloyd is to take delivery of the first newbuilding in a series of four 7,500-TEU vessels in late October 2001, with the other three units to follow in March 2003.
These ships will be among the largest in the world. By the spring of 2004, the Hapag-Lloyd fleet will comprise 37 units, including 18 identical ships with 4,900-TEU capacity, as well as the eight newbuildings capable of carrying 6,750 TEU or 7,500 TEU.