London: Lomar Shipping has bought three second-hand containerships and ordered up to four newbuildings from China’s Yangzijiang shipyard.
The newbuildings are ‘widebeam’ 2,700-teu container vessels, scheduled for delivery from the Chinese yard in March 2017.
These new boxships are fitted with fuel-efficient G-type engines that the London-based company says “meet current emissions regulations”.
The ships will have capacity for 600 forty-foot reefer boxes and a homogeneous intake of 2,300 teu at 14 tonnes.
“Furthermore, the reduced overall length of the vessels makes them ideal for ports with an LOA restriction,” Lomar said in a statement today.
Among the three German-built second-hand vessels bought by Lomar is the Rio Ardeche (2,500 teu, built 2006), which will be re-named Oregon Trader. The vessel is the sister ship to the Rio Ardour, which Lomar purchased in late 2014 and has since re-named Virginia Trader.
The company has also acquired the Conti Daphne (2,100 teu, built 2008), which will be named Louisiana Trader. The vessel is a sister ship to the Conti Ariadne, bought by Lomar last December and has since been renamed Georgia Trader.
Delivery of both the Rio Ardeche and the Conti Daphne is expected in March.
Lomar has also acquired the Ulf Ritscher (2,526 teu, built 2001), which will be renamed Calais Trader and is scheduled for delivery in April.
Aside from these new arrivals, Lomar has 12 containerships currently being built at yards in China, of which six are 1,102-teu feedermaxes scheduled to arrive this year; another six are 2,109-teu vessels for delivery this year and next. Four 64,000-dwt ultramax bulk carriers are also under construction.
