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STX says it has developed world’s biggest boxship

By Mike Grinter in Hong Kong - Thursday 29 May 2008

SOUTH Korea’s STX Shipbuilding claims it has developed the world’s largest containership, which is capable of carrying 22,000 teu. 

Measuring 460m long, 60m wide and 30m deep, the giant vessel leaves Samsung Heavy Industries’ attempt at a mega-box carrier way behind. SHI announced late last year that it had developed a 16,000 teu ship that would be 400m long and propelled by a 10,000 bhp engine. 

STX spokesperson Ho-Jung Kim said the vessel could be constructed with either a single engine or with twin-engines. Capable of a cruising speed of 24-26 knots, the selling point is fuel efficiency. 

Mr Kim said that the motivating force behind the new design was a belief that high oil prices are here to stay. The new ship would generate fuel savings of up to 40% in cost per transported teu, compared with existing containerships. 

Mr Kim said that ports with a 14m draft would be capable of receiving the vessel if it had sufficient berth length. Unfortunately, this is rare today. The likelihood is that such a vessel would be limited to runs between Shanghai and Long Beach. 

The largest containership currently plying the world’s oceans is the Emma Maersk, which is capable of carrying a maximum 13,500 teu. 

Samsung Heavy Industries said it had yet to receive enquiries for its 16,000 teu design, but suggested the lack of enquiries reflected a thin market for containerships rather than a lack of interest in the size of the vessel. 

“We expect interest in containerships will be on the rise again in the second half of the year,” an SHI spokesperson said.