Construction begins on largest containerships to date

Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world's largest shipbuilding company, today commenced construction of the first of five 19,000 TEU containerships. The vessels, which have been commissioned by China Shipping  Container Lines (Hong Kong), are to be the largest containerships ever built, after the CSCL upgraded the initial order for five 18,400 TEU ships to ships with the capacity for 600 more containers.

The record-breaking ships will measure 400m in length, 58.6m in width and 30.5m in depth and is due for completion in handover this November. The remaining four containerships are expected to be ready by March 2015.

All of the new vessels will feature a 77,200 bhp electronically-controlled main engine for maximum fuel efficiency. The engine controls fuel consumption to suit sailing speed and sea conditions, thus reducing noise, vibrations and carbon emissions. Each vessel will also feature two EcoBallast seawater treatment systems, capable of treating 3,000 cubic metres of seawater per hour by filtering and sterilizing bacteria and plankton with ultraviolet rays.