Danish shipping giant Maersk Line confirmed that it would charter thirteen feeder newbuildings, to be constructed at three separate shipyards.
The company explained that, as part of the ongoing optimisation and renewal of its feeder fleet portfolio, Maersk has committed to charter the 2,200 TEU feeders, which are owned and fully financed by third party vessel leasing companies.
Upon delivery, the units will operate in Sealand’s Intra Asia-network and replace older, less efficient vessels in the company’s chartered fleet, as well as owned vessels reaching end of lifetime in the next years.
Five feeders will be built by China’s Jiangnan Yard, another five would be constructed by Japanese Imabari Yard, while the remaining three would be delivered by China-based Zhoushan Changhong Yard.
Delivery is expected in the first half of 2021 for Imabari and Jiangnan, and in the fourth quarter of 2020/first half of 2021 for Zhoushan Changhong.
“As stated in our 2018 annual report, continued capex discipline remains a key focus area for Maersk. We will make no new orders of large vessels before 2020, at the earliest, and we reiterate our target to keep fleet capacity around 4 million TEU in 2019,” Peter Lund, VP, Head of Chartering at A.P. Moller – Maersk, said.
World Maritime News Staff