On 1st January 2013 The China Navigation Company (CNCo), the deep sea shipowning and operating arm of the multi-national Swire group, successfully launched the first of a new series of eight S Class vessels at Zhejiang Ouhua Shipyard in China. The first of these 31,000 dwt modern, multi-purpose and highly fuel efficient, S-Class vessels, MV Shansi, is due to enter into service at the end of March 2013.
All eight new vessels are scheduled for deployment directly into Swire Shipping’s multi-purpose liner trades linking North, East and South East Asia to key markets in Australia, New Zealand and the island nations of the South Pacific.
Reinforcing CNCo’s commitment to providing sustainable shipping solutions, the innovative S Class ships will provide Swire Shipping’s valued customers with additional capacity, heavy lift capabilities (up to 120tons) and increased cargo fl exibility. The vessels have been specially designed to offer ground-breaking fuel efficiency, high speed cargo handling capability and the versatility to carry a wide range of cargo types including steel and forest products, heavylift plant machinery and equipment and project parcels as well as agricultural commodities and minor bulk parcels.
The new vessels offer a range of high-specification, technological features including:
MV Shansi is scheduled for delivery in late March 2013 and will undergo extensive testing and sea trials in the interim. The second sister vessel, MV Shantung, was launched on 25th January and the remaining S Class vessels will be launched at monthly intervals with the eighth and final vessel, MV Szechuen, scheduled for delivery in October 2013.
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Swire Shipping, March 8, 2013