New Ships to Enhance Freight Services for Container Shipping Group

CHINA – NETHERLANDS – WEST AFRICA – Established container shipping line NileDutch which for over 30 years has been providing liner services between West African ports and destinations including Europe, South Africa, South America and Asia, has held a naming ceremony in Shanghai for the first of four 3,510 TEU new build vessels. The company’s strong West African network has prompted the commissioning of the custom designed box carriers to upgrade its import/export freight services to and from the region.

The new vessels are equipped with 20,000 kW engines to optimise operational efficiency and ensure a low environmental impact. Each ship will be 224 metres long with a 12.5 metre draft to best serve the busy West Africa - Far East rotation, the company has five Chinese offices, and can carry 1,530 TEU in the holds plus 1,980 on the hatch covers. All will be registered in the Netherlands and sail under the Dutch flag.

The naming ceremony for this first ship, the MV NileDutch Breda, was held on 28 May 2014 at the Shanghai Shipyard on Chongming Island, Shanghai. Anneke van Aalst, wife of NileDutch President Wim van Aalst, was the ship's godmother and the ceremony was attended by representatives of the shipyard, the Dutch consulate in Shanghai, port authorities and NileDutch business partners and customers.

Photo: Wim van Aalst (president NileDutch) and Anneke van Aalst (ship's godmother) centre. (Tetyana Chebotar Photography)