HAPAG-LLOYD TO ORDER FIRST POST-PANAMAX CONTAINERSHIPS

HAPAG-LLOYD TO ORDER FIRST POST-PANAMAX CONTAINERSHIPS    Hapag-Lloyd said that it is finalizing an order for four giant containerships of about 7,000-TEU capacity, the first vessels in its fleet that would be too wide to transit the Panama canal.
   The German carrier said that it will confirm the order soon.
   Hapag-Lloyd is one of the few major containership operators that had not switched to post-Panamax tonnage. At present, the largest vessels of Hapag-Lloyd have a capacity of 4,800-TEU.
   Hapag-Lloyd did not say on which trade route it would deploy the big ships. It indicated that it may eventually order 18 such 7,000-TEU vessels for its east/west trade services.
   The announcement of forthcoming orders for post-Panamax vessels by Hapag-Lloyd follows a recent order by Mediterranean Shipping Co. for 10 vessels of 6,700-TEU capacity for the Asia/Europe trade.