ports

Container Lines Deploy Ultra-Large Vessels on Asia-Europe Routes

Major container operators bolstered capacity on east-west tradelanes this month with deliveries of new ultra-large vessels. CMA CGM received the 24,212-teu CMA CGM Pantheon from Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, the second Jacques Saade-class LNG-powered ship in a ten-vessel series commissioned in mid-2023. The vessel features 1,600 reefer plugs and will join the FAL1 Asia-Europe service alongside a mixed fleet of 21,000-24,000-teu and 17,000-teu ships. Separately, Evergreen took delivery of the 16,556-teu Ever Even from Samsung Heavy Industries, the sixth of 16 methanol dual-fuelled vessels. The Ever Even will enter the NEU7 Asia-Europe service, replacing the 11,800-teu Ever Fit. Shipowner Danaos received the 8,258-teu Express Santorini from Yangzijiang, the first of seven vessels chartered to Hapag-Lloyd for deployment on the AE1/NE2 service during peak season.