NYK-Hinode orders multipurpose ships for non-container trades

NYK-Hinode orders multipurpose ships for non-container trades    NYK-Hinode Line, Ltd., a subsidiary of Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, has ordered four multipurpose ships.
   NYK said that the vessels will be deployed in the non-containerized trades in such areas as the Middle East, Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, India and Australia as    well as Japan’s near-seas trade.
   “The aim is to better cope with the increasing cross-trade need to transport plant equipment, vehicles and steel products,” NYK said.
   The ships will replace existing multipurpose vessels. The new ships are scheduled for completion by the Shin Kurushima Dockyard shipyard between late 2004 and the spring of 2005.
   With a length of 150 meters and a deadweight of 20,000 tons, the vessels will be equipped with two 150-ton cranes. They will also be capable of carrying 400 cars and 550 TEUs.