Mitsui O.S.K. Lines said it has taken delivery of what it claims to be the world’s largest containership, MOL Triumph, from Samsung Heavy Industries earlier this week.
MOL’s newest vessel, the first of a fleet of six 20,000 TEU-class containerships has been designed with the retrofit option to convert to LNG-fueled ship, was named MOL Triumph.
MOL Triumph will set off on its maiden voyage from Xingang in April 2017 and will sail to Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Hong Kong, Yantian and Singapore. It will then transit through the Suez Canal and continue on to Tangier, Southampton, Hamburg, Rotterdam and Le Havre, and then call at Tangier and Jebel Ali on the way back to Asia.
The company said it will take the delivery of the second 20,000 TEU-class vessel in May 2017. Eventually, six vessels in total will be built and they will be phased in gradually on MOL’s existing trade routes.
All vessels will be LNG-ready in view of the implementation of the International Maritime Organization’s new regulation to limit SOx emission in marine fuels which will come into effect in 2020.
According to the company’s deal signed in March 2015, four vessels will be built by Samsung Heavy Industries, while two vessels will be built at Imabari Shipbuilding.
MOL signed an MOU for long-term chartering of the two 20,000 TEU containerships with Shoei Kisen Kaisha.