VESSEL REVIEW | Seaboard Legend – Germany's AAC adds 1,208TEU methanol-ready feeder ship to fleet
The China Merchants Shipbuilding Industry Group’s Qingdao Shipyard handed over the 1,208TEU feeder container vessel Seaboard Legend (formerly named Johanna Schepers) to German shipping company Arkona Allied Container (AAC) on May 14, 2026.
The vessel has power supply for up to 276 reefer containers and conventional main propulsion designed for possible later adaptation to methanol. She will initially serve a long-term charter with US-based Seaboard Marine.
The ship is the first container vessel in a new series built for AAC. The vessels were built as part of a feeder project, which itself is a collaboration with Reederei HS Schiffahrt, though ownership of the vessels will remain with AAC. Seaboard Legend is one of 14 methanol-ready feeders included in the project.
Design work on the ship was undertaken by China State Shipbuilding Corporation subsidiary Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute.
With space for reefer container carriage
The ship has an LOA of 154.94 metres (508.33 feet) and a beam of 24.5 metres (80.4 feet), a draught of eight metres (26 feet), a deadweight of 13,700, and a gross tonnage of 13,719.
She sails under the flag of Portugal and is classed by DNV.
The cargo arrangement allows eight container rows to be placed across the open hold and nine rows on deck.
Conventional propulsion configured for trans-Pacific voyages
A single MAN B&W 6S50ME-C9 main engine with a rated output of 8,200 kW (11,000 hp) gives the vessel a design service speed of 15 knots and a maximum speed of 18 knots. Three auxiliary engines and shaft generators support the reefer power provision.
The propulsion arrangement can be modified in future to permit operation on methanol.
In fulfilment of the long-term charter with Seaboard Marine, the ship will carry newly manufactured reefer containers from China to markets in North and Central America, following work undertaken by earlier vessels of the type.
