HAPAG-LLOYD ORDERS FOUR 6,750-TEU BOXSHIPS

HAPAG-LLOYD ORDERS FOUR 6,750-TEU BOXSHIPS    Hapag-Lloyd has ordered four 6,750-TEU containerships that will be delivered in late 2003 and early 2004.
   The carrier will operate the large vessels under a long-term charter agreement.
   The vessels will be deployed in the Asia/Europe services of the Grand Alliance, to which Hapag-Lloyd belongs.
   The 6,750-TEU vessels will be 300 meters long and 40 meters wide. They will have a service speed of 26 knots. The ships will be comparable in size to four 7,500-TEU vessels ordered by Hapag-Lloyd and due to be delivered between October of this year and March 2003.
   Hapag-Lloyd said it ordered the containerships to increase its carrying capacity “in view of the ongoing growth in global container transport.”
   “We are confident that, despite the present downturn, global container transport will continue to grow in the long term and have thus decided to expand our fleet by adding four more units so as to offer our customers adequate capacities,” said G'nther Casjens, chief executive officer of Hapag-Lloyd Container Line.