Hapag-Lloyd orders three 8,600 TEU ships

Hapag-Lloyd orders three 8,600 TEU ships    Hamburg-based Hapag-Lloyd today ordered three 8,600 TEU containerships from South Korean Hyundai Heavy Industries for delivery in 2007 and 2008.
   The ships will be 335 meters (1,099 feet) long, 43 meters (141 feet) wide, and have speeds of 25.2 knots. The first ship in the series will be delivered at the end of 2007 with the remaining two arriving in the following year.
   The carrier said ships will probably be deployed in its Asia services.
   Hapag-Lloyd plans to expand its fleet with 10 new ships by 2008, swelling the fleet from 51 to 61 vessels. Four ships are scheduled to be delivered in 2005, one in 2006, three in 2007 and two in 2008.