Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) has just taken delivery of its first newbuilding in over five years and also its largest ever container ship.
The 24,188-teu OOCL Spain (built 2023) was recently handed over by Nantong Cosco KHI Ship Engineering Co (Nacks) in Nantong, China.
OOCL said the ship is not its first vessel to exceed the 24,000-teu threshold, but it is also among the very largest container ships in the world as measured by carrying capacity.
The OOCL Spain is the first in a series of six 24,188-teu vessels ordered by OOCL in 2020 to be delivered by Nacks.
“The OOCL Spain is not only the first newbuilding that has been delivered to us in over five years, but it is also OOCL’s first vessel with a capacity over 24,000 teu,” confirmed OOCL chief operating officer Kenny Ye.
“More importantly, she is the first newbuilding received by OOCL since the company joined the Cosco Shipping Group, and so it is the first vessel jointly created by OOCL and other sister companies.
“I would like to thank Nacks, who, using their own R&D and technological capabilities, have designed this mega-vessel, equipped with the most advanced eco-friendly and intelligent technologies,” he added.
The vessel is said to have been awarded three “Smart Notations” by American Bureau of Shipping in recognition of the use of the latest intelligent technology on board.
OOCL said this together with big data acquisition will optimise the operations of the OOCL Spain, enabling “fuel-efficiency improvements, gains in structural health monitoring and long-term navigational safety”.
The previous largest ships in the OOCL fleet were the 21,413-teu G-class of six vessels built between 2017 and 2018.
Following delivery, the OOCL Spain will join OOCL’s Asia-Europe service Loop 3 from March 2023.
Its port rotation will be: Shanghai, Xiamen, Nansha, Hong Kong, Yantian, Cai Mep, Singapore, Piraeus, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Zeebrugge and Valencia before returning to Piraeus, then Abu Dhabi, Singapore and Shanghai in an 84-day round trip.
OOCL is set to take delivery of another newbuilding in the 24,000-teu series from Nacks starting from the third quarter of 2026.
The seven ships will be methanol-ready on delivery in a move described as a “significant milestone” in OOCL’s decarbonisation journey.
The ships were ordered in October 2022 at a total cost of $1.67bn, or $239.85m per vessel, according to the Cosco-owned container line.
At the time of the contract signing, Ye said OOCL believes that it can be “green and competitive” at the same time, without sacrificing one over the other.
“These vessels will help OOCL grow its fleet in a healthy and balanced manner, allowing us to enhance our network design and strengthen our long-haul routes, in line with our long-term development plan,” he said.
“More importantly, I believe that the ordering of these methanol-compatible vessels represents a hugely important step in our decarbonisation journey towards a greener future.”
