On December 11, the last newbuilding of a series of 3,400TEU container ships entered the waters at the Emden-based TKMS Blohm + Voss Nordseewerke.
This technical launch took place nine months after the laying down of the first double-bottom section. Once fully afloat, the vessel was immediately hauled over to the outfitting pier, where it will remain moored until its scheduled handover at the end of the first quarter of 2010.
The container vessel (yard number 559) is the last of a series of six 3,400TEU container ships that have been designed by TKMS Blohm + Voss Nordseewerke and constructed jointly by the Emden shipyard and Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in Kiel.
The container ship was built in compliance with the rules and regulations of Germanischer Lloyd. The vessel measures 228.5 metres by 32.2 metres. Displacing 42,600 tonnes, the vessel has a container capacity of 3,426TEU and 500 reefer connections.
The commercial shipbuilding crisis has meant that this container ship will be the last produced at TKMS Blohm + Voss Nordseewerke, which will now cease its newbuilding operations.
By taking this step, the Emden site will now be able to reposition itself as a future manufacturing centre for offshore wind turbine components. In early 2010, the new owner SIAG-Schaaf Industrie will start work on converting the existing dockyards to serve this purpose. In the future, the site will be known as SIAG Nordseewerke.
ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems will continue to handle vessel repairs and outfitting work at Emden and will be keeping its Engineering Unit for naval vessels in operation at the site.