UASC takes first of nine new containerships

Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has delivered a 13,500 teu containership to United Arab Shipping Company (UASC), a first in a series of nine ships that UASC has on order.

The combined contract of the order is around $1.5bn. The remaining eight sister ships will be delivered during the first four months of 2012 from SHI's Geoje yard. The containership Umm Salal can operate at a speed of around 25 knots and has capacity for 800 fourty feet reefer containers on deck. The containerships are also designed to be environmentally friendly with waste heat recovery systems and hulls coated with silicone paint to reduce water resistance and so cut fuel consumption. Upon delivery of the full fleet of nine containerships, UASC will use its latest newbuildings to establish a standalone service covering the Europe-Asia trades, with direct calls in the Middle East.
(Source:http://www.seatrade-asia.com)