APL’s 5th newest 9,200-TEU ship enters service

   Liner carrier APL has put its newest containership, the 9,200-TEU APL Savannah, into service in the transpacific.
   The vessel, the fifth of a series of 12 on order, will operate between Asia and the United States on the South Asia Express (SAX) service, rotating ports in San Pedro, Busan, Kaohsiung, Chiwan, Yantian and Singapore.
   APL said its new 9,200-TEU series of vessels is designed for “greater operational efficiency and more environmentally-sustainable operations.” For instance, an optimized hull form reduces sea resistance and results in less fuel consumed for propulsion.
   “APL has taken active steps to invest in green technology on our new ships to minimize our carbon footprint and promote sustainable global trade,” said Kenneth Glenn, APL president, in a recent statement. “In addition to several environmentally-friendly innovations introduced onboard, we are happy to confirm that the APL Savannah and her sister ships calling at the port are ready for cold-ironing, ahead of the implementation deadline.“
   California has mandated cold-ironing for containerships by 2014. At that time, half of a carrier’s fleet must rely on shore power when berthed in the state’s ports. APL was the first carrier to shut down, or “cold-iron,” a vessel’s engines to eliminate exhaust emissions in Oakland in mid-2011.