A new Hamburg-based operator using multipurpose vessels to carry super-sized containers has been launched in the transpacific market.
The company, CARRIER53’ Shipping, offers services from Humen, Taicang and Qingdao in China to Portland and Los Angeles in the US.
It will operate with a fleet of six owned and chartered multipurpose vessels, according to its website.
The company is headed by chief executive Willem-Alexander Dous and managing partner Jan Frahnert.
The duo are also managing directors of German container lessor Lotus Containers, which is believed to be backing the company.
Other well-known chartering names involved in the venture include Frank Fischer who is responsible for tonnage procurement.
Fischer has previously worked for several German multipurpose companies including Zeamarine, Intermarine, GB Shipping and Buss.
Niche trade
As its name implies, CARRIERS53 is expected to develop a niche trade for oversized 53-foot intermodal containers from the Far East to North America.
That will distinguish it from larger operators shipping the more common 40-ft equivalent (feu) unit containers.
The larger 53-ft containers are mainly used in the North American marketplace on rail and truck carriage.
The company will also offer individual ad hoc sailings on other routes, including an upcoming voyage from Hamburg to Veracruz in Mexico, says Alphaliner.
Six MPP vessels are currently listed as operating on the CARRIER53 website
These include the 33,400-dwt The Whale Shark (built 2011), which was reported sold in June as the AAL Jupiter.
Another is the 36,250-dwt open-hatch bulk carrier Shanghai Pearl (built 2011).
Those two vessels are owned by the company, with the remaining four vessels chartered from the market, according to Alphaliner.
These include the 37,000-dwt open-hatch MPP bulkers UBC Tampa (built 2009), UBC Tarragona (built 2010) and UBC Tokyo (built 2005) and the 33,175-dwt Xinyihai55 (built 2012).
