HMM uses multi-purpose ships to serve containers; Wanhai’s large-scale new ship orders increase to 9
HMM container service is replaced with a multi-purpose vessel
HMM has moved a multi-purpose vessel (MPV) from its bulk cargo service to Busan and the east coast of the United States, performing additional container loading services for the second time in less than two weeks.
The ship is HMM Dubai built in 2011, with a container capacity of 1,800TEU, and is usually deployed to the bulk cargo service of Korean liner operators. On May 29, HMM Dubai carrying 1,232 TEU of cargo departed from Busan Port for New York, and was scheduled to arrive on June 30.
In addition to HMM Dubai, the Seoul-based shipping company has reassigned 7 multi-purpose vessels to additional loader services, including MPV Urania, MPV Thalia, HMM Ulsan and Yu Chang.
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Under the urging of the South Korean government, HMM has completed several such temporary voyages to provide South Korean small and medium exporters with more transportation capacity.
Since August last year, the company has completed 25 additional ship loading services, 14 to Los Angeles, 5 to the East Coast of the United States, 3 to Russia, 2 to Europe, and 1 to Vietnam.
The soaring freight rates have increased the demand for ships, making it difficult for shipping companies to charter additional ships. Therefore, liner operators use containerized multi-purpose vessels (MPV) as an alternative.
A spokesperson for HMM: “The deployment of multiple multi-purpose vessels on container services is due to the security challenges faced by container ships in the leasing market and is part of our fleet strategy. It’s hard to say when we decide to deploy additional Loading ships, because the market is always changing."
Wan Hai orders four new large Panamax vessels
Wan Hai Shipping Company recently ordered four 13100teu ships from Samsung Heavy Industries, and just a few weeks ago, the company just purchased four similar new ships from a South Korean shipyard.
The Taiwanese liner operator stated in a document submitted to the Taiwan Stock Exchange on May 31 that it has ordered new Panamax vessels, priced from US$118.5 million to US$125 million, and will be delivered in the second quarter of 2023.
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On May 14, Wanhai Group paid for the resale transaction from Greek owner Capital Maritime & Trading, which is expected to be delivered in early 2023. In March of this year, Wan Hai also ordered five 13,000 teu ships from Hyundai Heavy Industries, which will be delivered in 2023.
Wan Hai is mainly a carrier in the Asian region and is also active in trans-Pacific and Asia-South American trade. The new Panamax is expected to be deployed on the Asia-South American route.
In December 2020, Wan Hai spent US$360 million to purchase second-hand ships. It has purchased 11 ships and is now the world's 11th largest container carrier, operating 83 self-owned ships and 62 chartered ships.
The company said that expanding the fleet will "ensure that the company's fleet can remain competitive and support continued market development."
