Mitsubishi Heavy to use stronger steel, boost container-ship capacity

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (7011.TO) will build container ships using Nippon Steel Corp. (5401.TO) steel plates with a tensile strength much stronger than plates used in commercial ships throughout the industry, the two companies said Wednesday. The plates, which have a higher resistance to cracks but are thinner than the old plates, will enable Japan’s largest shipbuilder to build ships with a higher cargo capacity, Mitsubishi Heavy and Nippon Steel said at a joint press conference.