HAPAG-LLOYD ORDERS FOUR 6,750-TEU SHIPS

HAPAG-LLOYD ORDERS FOUR 6,750-TEU SHIPS    Hapag-Lloyd said Thursday it has signed a contract for the long-term charter of four new 6,750-TEU containerships.
   The first of the four new ships will be delivered as early as the end of 2003. The last will be completed at the beginning of 2004.
   The vessels will be smaller than those ordered most recently by Hapag-Lloyd — four 7,500-TEU ships that are due to be delivered between October and March 2003.
   The 6,750-TEU vessels will be 300 meters long and 40 meters wide, and will have a service speed of 26 knots.
   Hapag-Lloyd said the new ships will be operated in the Grand Alliance's Europe/Asia service.
   “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.
   Hapag-Lloyd’s vessel order is part of a resurgence of orders for large containerships.