SINGAPORE tonnage provider OM Maritime is considering an order of 7,000-TEU containerships to be built at Chinese shipyards, reports London's Loadstar.
'We have been considering ordering some 7,000-TEU ships but no decision has been taken yet. If we do so, it will be for long-term charter to third-party operators,' said OM Maritime managing director Subhangshu Dutt.
Several shipping lines and tonnage providers have been showing interest in 7,000-TEUers, which are commonly deployed to mid-haul lanes such as Far East-Persian Gulf, Far East-South Asia and Far East-Australia/New Zealand.
These lanes have been neglected by mainline operators, due to much higher freight rates on the longer-haul Asia-Europe and transpacific routes.
Taiwanese liner operator TS Lines, Singapore-based feeder operator X-Press Feeders, Hong Kong's Seaspan Corporation and Singapore Eastern Pacific Shipping and Asiatic Lloyd Shipping have all ordered 7,000-TEU ships from New Times Shipbuilding, Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding and Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company this year.
Recently, Seaspan was said to have swooped for 10 7,000-TEU ships at Waigaoqiao, reportedly for long-term charter to ONE.
Mr Dutt, formerly an executive with Pacific International Lines, said OM Maritime had recently purchased two 5,000-TEUers, the 2004-built Maine Trader for US$54 million from Lomar Shipping and the 2006-built S Santiago for $58 million from Cyprus Sea Lines.
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'We have been considering ordering some 7,000-TEU ships but no decision has been taken yet. If we do so, it will be for long-term charter to third-party operators,' said OM Maritime managing director Subhangshu Dutt.
Several shipping lines and tonnage providers have been showing interest in 7,000-TEUers, which are commonly deployed to mid-haul lanes such as Far East-Persian Gulf, Far East-South Asia and Far East-Australia/New Zealand.
These lanes have been neglected by mainline operators, due to much higher freight rates on the longer-haul Asia-Europe and transpacific routes.
Taiwanese liner operator TS Lines, Singapore-based feeder operator X-Press Feeders, Hong Kong's Seaspan Corporation and Singapore Eastern Pacific Shipping and Asiatic Lloyd Shipping have all ordered 7,000-TEU ships from New Times Shipbuilding, Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding and Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company this year.
Recently, Seaspan was said to have swooped for 10 7,000-TEU ships at Waigaoqiao, reportedly for long-term charter to ONE.
Mr Dutt, formerly an executive with Pacific International Lines, said OM Maritime had recently purchased two 5,000-TEUers, the 2004-built Maine Trader for US$54 million from Lomar Shipping and the 2006-built S Santiago for $58 million from Cyprus Sea Lines.
SeaNews Turkey