CHINA SHIPPING NEGOTIATES 9,000-TEU SHIP ORDERS

CHINA SHIPPING NEGOTIATES 9,000-TEU SHIP ORDERS    China Shipping Container Lines is in negotiations with Samsung Heavy Industries, the Korean shipyard, about orders for a series of 9,000-TEU containerships. When the orders are concluded, they will lead to the contruction of the world’s largest containerships to date, overtaking Maersk Sealand’s “S-class” vessels of about 8,000-TEU effective capacity.
   A spokesman for the shipyard in Korea said that negotiations for the 9,000-TEU ships are under way, following the signing of a letter of intent for orders.
   Samsung, a shipyard that has led the development of post-Panamax containerships in Asia, has designed a 9,000-TEU prototype containership with a length of 330 meters, a draft of 14.5 meters, a width of 45.6 meters and a speed of 26 knots.
   Samsung said last year that it also plans to develop a prototype for a 14,000-TEU containership dubbed the “ultra large container ship.”