Report: Maersk adds capacity to ships

Report: Maersk adds capacity to ships    Maersk Line is refusing to comment on an Alphaliner information service report that it is expanding the carrying capacity of its S-class ships.
   Alphaliner reported last week the Danish carrier will boost capacity of 10 to 16 S-class ships to 9,600 TEUs from the 8,200-8,600 TEU range. Maersk built 25 of the S-class ships, said Alphaliner.
   While some companies have expanded capacity by adding mid-bodies, Alphaliner said Maersk will expand the S-class ships by raising the bridge of the ships so that two extra tiers of containers can be stowed forward of the accommodation block.
   Reefer plugs will be added, it said, but the ship’s effective capacity to carry loaded containers loaded to 14 tons per TEU will actually decrease.
   “The enhancement aims at increasing the ships' capacity for lightly loaded containers and at providing additional slots for the repositioning of empties,” Alphaliner explained.