Samsung plans 14,000-TEU mega-ship design

Samsung plans 14,000-TEU mega-ship design Whereas the largest containerships on order near the 10,000-TEU threshold, Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries said it plans to raise the upper limit further with a design for 14,000-TEU ships.
   Specialized in building very large boxships, Samsung said it has already completed performance tests for 12,000-TEU containerships.
   “Based on the accumulated technologies and know-how, Samsung Heavy Industries also plans to develop an ultra large-scale 14,000-TEU containership, nicknamed ‘a dream ship,'” the Korean builder said.
   Samsung also confirmed it has received an order for four 9,200-TEU container vessels from Mediterranean Shipping Co. The vessels will be delivered to MSC between the second and fourth quarters of 2007.
   China Shipping has eight 9,200-TEU vessels on order from Samsung, scheduled to be delivered in 2006 and 2007, while Evergreen is believed to be discussing potential orders of 8,000-TEU ships with the Korean shipyard.
   “Considering the fact that marine shipping companies prefer large-sized containerships for their operation efficiency, as well as for cost saving effects, it will be a matter of time until over 10,000-TEU containerships prevail,” Samsung predicted.