Seven 2011- and 2012-built 8,004 teu Hapag-Lloyd sister boxships have been earmarked for major mid-life upgrades.
Alphaliner reports that the seven ships will all have around 1,000 teu in extra capacity added with the first ship already in a drydock in Denmark.
The ship surgery sees the ships’ superstructures cut in half and a prefabricated section inserted to raise the wheelhouse by two decks. In combination with raised lashing bridges and enhanced lashing gear, this will allow the vessels to carry an additional two layers of deck containers.
New energy saving propellers are also being fitted with each ship expected to be in drydock for around six weeks.
Similar jumboisation projects have already been carried out by Maersk, Evergreen and CMA CGM according to Alphaliner.
