Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has begun building the first of five 19,000TEU containerships for Hong Kong-based China Shipping Container Lines.
The shipowner upgraded the original order, for five 18,400TEU containerships, to vessels capable of delivering 600 additional containers. Upon delivery, these new ships will be the largest containerships ever built.
The vessels will feature a 57,500kW electronically-controlled main engine and two EcoBallast seawater treatment systems. The main engine will be designed to maximise fuel efficiency, and reduce noise, vibrations, and carbon emissions by automatically controlling fuel consumption to suit sailing speed and sea conditions.
The EcoBallast system can treat 3,000m3 of seawater per hour by filtering and sterilising bacteria and plankton bigger than 50µm with ultraviolet rays.
The first containership, measuring 400 metres x 58.6 metres x 30.5 metres, is scheduled to be handed over by November this year. The remaining four containerships are slated to be delivered by the end of the first quarter 2015.
