Japan’s shipbuilder Imabari Shipbuilding, with the cooperation of Marubeni Corporation, has secured a newbuilding order for eleven 20,000 TEU Ultra-Large Container Carriers, the largest type container carriers in the world as of today.
The vessels will have about 400 metres in length with about 59 metres in breadth. The first vessel is scheduled to be completed in early 2018. Imabari did not disclose who ordered the vessels.
In order to accommodate construction of Ultra-Large newbuilding vessels, Imabari has decided to construct a large newbuilding dry dock of about 600m length x 80m breadth on the reclaimed land (about 100,000 m2) which is located next to the company’s Marugame Headquarters.
The new dry dock construction permit has already been granted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
Imabari said that the dry dock’s construction will start from next month, and is scheduled to be completed in October 2016 by the consortium of Rinkai Construction Co., Ltd., Obayashi Corporation and Toyo Construction Co., Ltd.
Imabari intends to invest about JPY 40 billion (USD 339m) for the Marugame new dry dock including block factory and 3 units of cranes each having 1,200-ton hoisting capacity.