DNV GL to class LNG-ready container ships

DNV GL has announced that it has signed a newbuilding classification agreement with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Co. Ltd (SWS) for three vessels for COSCO Container Lines Co. Ltd.

The 20 000 TEU vessels are all ultra large container ships (ULCS) and are scheduled for delivery as of January 2018. They will be classed by both DNV GL and China Classification Society (CCS) and will operate in the Far East – Europe trade.

The Head of Business Development Hamburg, Jan-Olaf Probst, said: “This contract is another milestone in China’s evolution into one of the world’s leading shipbuilding nations.

“SWS has been on a very strong development path and has consistently been one of the top Chinese yards in terms of efficiency and innovation, so it is only fitting that they are the first yard to top the 20 000 TEU mark in China. We are very proud that SWS have recognised our unmatched expertise in the boxship sector by awarding us this contract, and look forward to supporting them through to a successful delivery.”

The new UCLSs are the first 20 000 TEU plus container ships to be built in China, are have been designed by the Marine Design & Research Institute of China (MARIC).

Furthermore, the vessels will have DNV GL’s gas ready notation, allowing COSCON to be more easily converted to LNG fuel in the future. They will also have the route specific container stowage (RSCS) notation. This is allow the vessels to be even more efficient in the usage of their cargo capacity by offering greater flexibility for laden containers on board on certain routes. In addition to this, they will meet the highest EEDI and ECA standards and requirements, and have double-hull protection of both fuel tanks and ballast water treatment systems.

Edited from press release by David Rowlands

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/lng-shipping/02122015/dnv-gl-to-class-lng-ready-container-ships-1707/