Hanjin to take on order for 5 megaships
South Korean container line Hanjin Shipping will take delivery of five 13,000-TEU containerships after the line tweaked an order with an undisclosed shipyard to take full ownership of the vessels.
Hanjin confirmed the order to American Shipper Monday, but did not specify details of the shipyard. The carrier said it was initially due to take the vessels on charter from a deal signed in 2008 with a non-operating ship owner.
Hanjin will pay $170 million per vessel ($850 million overall), and deliveries will start in the first quarter 2012.
The Korean line would be the latest to take ownership of such massive vessels, with recent orders from APL and OOCL supplementing previous orders from China Shipping, United Arab Shipping Co., and the top operators, Maersk Line, Mediterranean Shipping Co. and CMA CGM.
