Saturday, April 25, 2015

Container Shipping Line Names Latest Fleet Addition for West Africa - Far East Trade

Against the Trend for Ever Larger Vessels Come Four New 3,500 + Box Ships
Shipping News Feature

NETHERLANDS – WEST AFRICA – Rotterdam headquartered NileDutch, a container shipping line specialising in West African traffic has just named the latest addition to its fleet, the 3,510 TEU NileDutch Antwerpen, its third newbuild vessel in a series. The naming ceremony was attended by representatives of the embassies in Belgium of Angola, Congo, Gabon and the Netherlands, the port authorities, and customers and business partners of the box carrier. NileDutch is expanding its fleet with four custom-designed container vessels to offer an improved service to key markets in West Africa.

After 30 or so years of trading the company is listed as one of the world's top 25 container shipping companies and specialises in vessels between 700 and 4,500 TEU,and the dimensions and deck equipment of the four new vessels are tailored to the ports they will serve in West Africa, which the company says will result in improved service standards. All the new ships will be registered in the Netherlands and fly the Dutch flag.

The new vessels each have room for 1,530 TEU in the holds with 1,980 TEU on the hatch covers and their 20,000 kW engines have been designed to ensure operational efficiency and a low environmental impact. The fourth and last 224 metre long newbuild will be delivered later this year to join her sisters on the company’s West African – Far East rotation.

Photo: the naming ceremony took place at IMT Terminals in Antwerp, Belgium with Kathelijne de Braal, spouse of NileDutch COO Jan Willem de Braal, as the MV NileDutch Antwerpen's godmother.