OOCL Rotterdam christened

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OOCL Rotterdam, the third SX-class post-Panamax container vessel (8,063 TEUs) ordered by OOCL with Samsung Heavy Industries, was christened at the PSA Pasir Pajang Terminals in Singapore last week. It is the first of four vessels scheduled for delivery to OOCL in 2004.

OOCL Rotterdam, like her sister vessels, OOCL Shenzhen and OOCL Long Beach, is the largest liner ever built by Samsung. Besides being renowned for their size and container capacity (maximum stowage on deck is 17 rows of eight tiers high, and in the holds 15 rows of nine tiers), the SX-class vessels are also celebrated for their advanced design features.

OOCL Rotterdam is fitted with the largest main engine currently available for marine use. It is designed environmentally friendly with full compliance with the emission control requirement of Nox. SX-class vesssels can also travel at the same speed as similarly designed ships with less fuel oil consumption. By adopting the latest IT technology into the engine control system, the ship’s marine engine and other auxiliary machineries can be fully controlled and manoeuvred at various points on board the vessel.

In his address at the hristening ceremony, C.C. Tung, chairman of OOCL parent company OOIL Group, said, “OOCL experienced a satisfactory year in 2003 due to OOCL’s strategy of organic growth and our persistence in embracing our newbuilding programs as part of our long-term business plan to provide a competitive quality service to our customers. We also have much top be optimistic about in 2004. Consumer confidence and demand in the major import economies of Europe and North America appear to be gathering strength. Meanwhile, we have seen a large growth in manufacturing in Asia, creating new sources of cargo. We at OOCL are well prepared to serve our customers’ demand in all these areas with our added tonnage.”

The OOCL Rotterdam will be deployed in the same trade lane of OOCL Shenzhen under China Europe Express Loop of the Asia Europe Service of the Grand Alliance as follows: Shanghai/Xiamen/Yantian/Hong Kong/Singapore/Suez/Southampton/Hamburg/Rotterdam/Gioia Tauro/Port Said/Port Kelang/ Singapore/Hong Kong/and back to Shanghai, a round trip of 56 days.