Container ship

A container ship is a ship type that is designed for the transport of ISO containers.

The charge capacity of container ships is expressed in TEUs ( Twenty-foot Equivalent Units, see the tonnage ) and corresponds to the number of 20 -foot containers that can be loaded. Are also common, the larger 40 -foot containers (measured in FEU as Forty- foot Equivalent Unit), since the mid-1990s as 45 -, 48 - and 53 -foot containers and the rare encountered 30 -foot container, the however, must be loaded on deck, as the cell guides ( guide rails in the vertical) are designed for 40 -foot containers. For very large or heavy cargo, there are also so-called flat racks, open top containers or platforms that can be loaded in conjunction with standard containers.

Up to a charge capacity of 3400 TEU container ships have partially own loading gear, ships with higher freight capacity usually require special container cranes at container terminals, which must be available at each port. The trend towards larger container ships provides an increasing concentration of possible start points for container ships on relatively few central container ports over which runs much of the maritime trade. These ports become hubs; and from there go smaller container ships, such as feeder vessels (see also Umladeproblem - an optimization problem in the field of logistics).

Today, around 90 % of the cargo of world trade is transported by container ships. The demand for transport services varies throughout the year, depending on economic conditions. For example, significantly more goods transported in the second half because of the holiday shopping season than in the first. In July 2011, there were 75 container ships with a total of 115,000 TEUs without employment (trailer ); exactly one year later, there were 218 vessels with 467,000 TEU.

  • 3.1 Europe
  • 3.2 East Asia
  • 3.3 Container Ships German shipyards
  • 4.1 The largest container shipping lines in the world
  • 4.2 Largest container ship fleets by country
  • 4.3 lines and container shipping companies: mergers and acquisitions
  • 5.1 Current Alliances
  • 5.2 Outside of alliances operating shipping lines

History

The container ship was built in the 1950s in the United States. After the 1955 that entered service in Clifford J. Rogers with even very small containers followed 1956, the converted tanker Ideal X to the forwarding entrepreneur Malcolm McLean. This began with trailers to transport the body of semi-trailers without wheels over longer sea routes by ship. In 1960, McLean, the shipping company Sea-Land Corporation. Emerged early in the first half of the 1960s as a semi- container vessels planned new buildings, such as the 1963 was put into service Tobias Maersk in 1964 was taken in Australia with the Kooringa the first planned as a full container ship for ISO container building in operation.

The mid-1960s, there were already 171 in the United States (although almost all converted ) container ships. 1966 was the first time in Germany the container ship Fairland the shipping company Sea-Land in Bremen. Already on July 31, 1968 102 semi - or full- container vessels worldwide were commissioned or under construction. From 1968, the conversion of the main line services began on container traffic, first in the North Atlantic traffic ( between USA / East Coast and Western Europe), from October 1968, the Trans-Pacific service between Japan-USA/Westküste. This was supported by the NYK Line, the Hakone Maru used. The end of 1968, the first container ships ( 750 teu ) built by Bremer Vulkan with the Weser Express for the North German Lloyd and Blohm Voss, Hamburg, the Elbe Express for Hapag in Germany. They came with the sister ships Rhine and Moselle Express Express on the North Atlantic route in operation. Also in 1968 set the Hamburg shipping company August Bolten with the Barbel Bolten (140 TEU container ) a another container ship under the German flag.

On 1 July 1970, the global stock of semi -and full- container ships was 201 units (of which 154 container ships ), a year later, the stock of container ships was 231 units. In 1969 the conversion of the line service Europa-Australien/Neuseeland on container traffic, the end of 1971 Europe and the Far East, in May 1977 Europe - South Africa and Europa-Karibik/Golf of Mexico. 1981 followed the route from South Africa Far East (Safari - service). Thus, the conversion of the main line connections was completed on container traffic.

1984 offered the shipping company United States Lines for the first time a running eastward Round the World service, it operated with twelve ships of the American - New - York - class service ended after six months, as the shipping company went bankrupt. A via the Panama Canal and Suez Canal with twelve ships -started by the Evergreen Marine of Taiwan in both directions in the same year was about 1999 service again abandoned as a regular service from point A to B is more efficient. Today longest runs regularly scheduled container with an orbital period of 15 weeks is the AE -4 Service Maersk Sealand. It leads from USA / East Coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the Suez Canal, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan to the west coast of the USA. Back via Japan, then same route to USA / East Coast.

As container dimensions have 20 or 40 ft. long, 8 ft. wide and 8 ft. 6 in. Height enforced internationally. The old introduced by Sea Land Containermaß of 35 ft. is abolished, but today are increasingly also 40 - ft -. , And 45 ft. high cube container for use within the USA and 53 -foot containers, since there longer semi-trailers than in Europe are permitted. The container is the ideal transport container for the " door-to- door transport " has become.

Technical Development

Generations

Container ships are divided into generations.

The size of the 1968 -built container ships was the standard measurement for a ship of the 1st generation.

In early 1969, appeared with the Encounter Bay the first ship of the second generation, which have almost all ship a maximum width of 30.5 m, that is, to cover a maximum of twelve containers next to each other to be stowed.

For a long time was the upper limit of the size of container ships at 275 m long and 32.3 m wide, so that they could pass through the Panama Canal. Ships of this size were formerly known as 3rd generation.

Since about 1988 are known as Panamax ships that use the maximum length of Panama Canal locks ( 294 meters ) ( and not just the width).

In the initial phase ( about 1972 ) a maximum of 3,000 TEUs were the upper limit of what is technically implementable, in 1988 there were 4,300 TEU. Later " Panamax " new buildings could load up to 5060 TEU.

For larger ship types with more than 32.3 meters wide the name of Post-Panamax is in use. Ships of over 7000 TEU (2011 ) referred to as super-post -Panamax or post-Panamax Plus ships over 11,000 TEU as New Panamax.

Post-Panamax ships

The first container ships that were wider than 32.3 m ( Panama canal locks ), the five ships of President Truman class of the American President Lines (USA). They were in 1988 by Bremer Vulkan shipyard ( Vegesack ) and HDW built (Kiel) and were used only in the trans-Pacific service the shipping company. You are oa 275.0 m long and 38.5 m wide at 61 296 GT, 53 613 dwt and can carry a maximum of 4400 TEUs. On deck, a maximum of 15 containers are jammed next to each other.

1991 was built by Daewoo Heavy Industries CGM Normandie for the French CGM ( CMA CGM today ). She had a capacity of 4410 TEU and was the first post-Panamax ship Europe-Far East service. Again, could be placed on deck on a boat width of 38.0 m 15 containers side by side. In 1992 he was Bunga Pelangi for the shipping company MISC (Malaysia International Shipping Corporation Berhad ) with similar dimensions.

1994/1995 followed by Hong Kong and Nedlloyd Nedlloyd Honshu as the first and only post -Panamax open-top vessels for Royal Nedlloyd. From Japan followed from December 1994 three ships of NYK Altair class for the NYK Line, five identical ships for Mitsui OSK Lines and OOCL -California - class of the shipping company OOCL ( Hong Kong), which were first dam with 40 meters width on deck 16 containers side by side.

1995 for American President Lines (APL ), a further six post-Panamax ships ( C11 class) built, three each at HDW ( Kiel) and Daewoo Heavy Industries. APL had at that time ( until early 1999) with a total of eleven such ships, the largest post -Panamax fleet.

As of 1996 came with the Regina Mærsk - type the first series of Very Large Container Ships ( VLCS ) in driving. It was the first 42.8 -meter-wide (they can 17 rows of containers side by side dam ) and the first over 300 meters of container ships. With a slot capacity of 7,000 TEU ships were at least 50% greater than the previous record holder - such a step change had not yet given it by then.

Projects and finished design draft classification societies and / or shipyards for a designated as Suezmax container ship type for up to 14,000 TEUs there since about 1996. Since the expansion of the Suez Canal but also larger ships such as the Emma Mærsk class to the Suez Canal pass. Also designs for a Malaccamax container ship for 21,000 TEU are already calculated. Here, however, the limitations in the handling capacity and the draft restrictions in the container ports were not considered.

The German Hapag -Lloyd AG held a very long fixed exclusively on Panamax vessel type and started the last of the major container shipping companies until 2001 with the construction of a first post-Panamax ship, the Hamburg Express.

In 2005, the MSC Pamela, the first container ship with 45.6 meters in width put into service, here for the first time 18 container can be stowed adjacent to each other.

Ultra Large Container Ships ( ULCS )

By Germanischer Lloyd, Hamburg were developed in collaboration with the shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries ( HHI) construction plans for a 382 m long, 54.2 m wide and 13.5 m deep mega container carriers created ( Suezmax ship). This should be able to carry 6230 containers in 10 locations in 19 rows in the room and 7210 containers in 21 rows on deck. The drive would have consisted of two 45,000 kW payable propeller gondolas ( " pod drives " ), which would have allowed a speed of 25.5 knots. The bridge would be located separately from the drive system in the first third of the ship. A construction contract was not granted.

To date ( mid-2013 ) could be found for the described Megacarrier No customer; the Odense shipyard implemented from September 2006 to the Emma Mærsk - class currently the largest container vessel type. He comes in spite of its size with a ship's propeller; it is powered by a 14 - cylinder Wärtsilä RT-flex 96 CB two-stroke engine with more than 80 MW. The eight ships of the Emma Mærsk - class who wear a uniform with "E" starting the name Mærsk, 22 containers can load on deck at 56.4 meters wide side by side. You are 397 m long and have a maximum draft of 16.0 m. Up to eleven layers of containers on each other a maximum of nine layers are in the hull of the ship, about stacked on deck. The capacity of these ships is given as 15,500 TEUs, there are connections for 1,000 refrigerated containers. This class has so 4,900 TEU more than the previous record holder Gudrun Mærsk.

In 2008, the MSC Daniela was put into service. It is in the service of Mediterranean Shipping Company. With a length of 366 m and width of 51.2 m of classified by Germanischer Lloyd " MegaBoxers " for the new lock channel of the Panama Canal is designed and capable of transporting 13,800 TEUs. The lead ship of the MSC Daniela class initiated the construction of a series of sister ships, which also includes - but otherwise motorized - CMA CGM Christophe Colomb heard.

Maersk ordered in February 2011, ten 18,270 -TEU ships of the Triple-E class with an option for 20 more ships. In June 2011, the option to build a further ten ships was redeemed, bringing the Bauorder increased to 20 vessels. They are equipped with two main engines. Their maximum speed is 23 knots (which is the Emma Maersk class 25 knots). The ships are designed to operate fuel efficient at lower speed (slow steaming ).

" Triple E " stands for " economy of scale, energy efficiency and environmentally improved", so for economically size, energy efficient and environmentally friendly. At present (2012? ) Drive world 163 container ships with a capacity of over 10,000 TEU, including 20 Triple-E 's Maersk are 120 more ordered.

The first of these vessels had on February 23, 2013 Korea 's semi -launch.

Development of ship size

Comments

The relevant time for the biggest container ships in the world. The ships of identical series only the first ship of the series is listed. Current record holder and the current maximum values ​​in bold

  • (*): The size of each container ship is specified in world TEU container capacity. The shipping company Maersk Line made ​​this long an exception and did not specify the maximum TEU container capacity of the ship, but the maximum number of loaded TEUs to 14 tons each. This value, see number in parentheses, so that is always lower than the maximum number of parking spaces. In the meantime, is also Marsk to the size of its container ships in maximum TEU.
  • (*** ): The Kooringa was established for the transport of 276 35 -foot containers, which is roughly equivalent to 483 TEU.
  • (**** ): The Clifford J. Rogers was established for the transport of 600 7 -foot containers, which is roughly equivalent to 210 TEU.

Reefer ships

Container ships with more than 50 refrigerated containers are often referred to as a cooling container ships. The market of refrigerated containers is increasing rapidly and is a serious competitor to the reefers dar. In 1972 United Fruit (now Chiquita ) with the transport of bananas in refrigerated containers. One of the reasons for this is that faster unloading the vessel at the port is possible. This is also luke -less ships are used to move directly to a crane on the container. The first luke -free cooling container ships were produced in 1999 by HDW and offered parking for 990 TEU Reefer Container 33 TEU and uncooled containers. These ships are for Dole in use and serve the fruit transport of Central America to the United States. Today, Hamburg Süd is one of the largest shipping companies, who specialize in the transportation of refrigerated containers to and from South America.

The ships of the " Monte" class, with 5,500 TEUs and "Rio" class with 5905 TEU Hamburg Süd container ships are the largest cooling capacity. You have 1365 reefer plugs, which are spaces for around 2,500 TEU Reefer container above and below deck.

Hatch cover lots of container ships

Since 1990, hatch covers lots container ships are being built. These are vessels whose holds no hatch cover (or only on the first and second cargo space behind the breakwater ) have, making the loading and unloading times are reduced and the weight of the hatch cover is saved. A special bow against high waves and a powerful pumping system this will require. The world's first ship of this type was the Bell Pioneer. The only previous large container vessels in this type of construction operation Nedlloyd, later Royal P & O Nedlloyd NV, now Mærsk with the five 1991/92 built Panamax ships from Ultimate Container Carrier type, and the two world's first post-Panamax open-top vessels Nedlloyd Hong Kong and Nedlloyd Honshu, built in 1994.

For reasons of ship strength (torsion ), vessel safety and economic one is, however, again strayed from building open-top vessels of more than 1,000 TEU. The fact that the hatch cover missing, high-strength steel strapping must be used in addition to stiffen, which is too costly from an economic perspective. Moreover, a high freeboard is necessary to minimize ingress of seawater. (See the feeder vessels shipyard Sietas, who no longer cover even in the middle hold, but raised Lukenkumminge. )

Drive

The container ships of the 1st and 2nd generation had Einschraubenantrieb (steam turbine or diesel engine). The ships of the 3rd generation ( model years 1971-1981 ) were initially designed for 27-28 knots. For two screws drives were necessary ( turbine or diesel ) or even three screws drives with three diesel engines. Another concept that has been implemented for the first time in this generation of container ships, were the gas turbine ships of the euro liner type. This drive, previously only known from military ships, but it became, especially after the oil crisis in the early 1970 years, soon to be uneconomical out. First major Panamaxschiffe with Einschraubenantrieb were asked at the end of 1980 in service, as the first time were powerful diesel engines with 50,000 hp available and could thus be dispensed with the more expensive multi-screw drives. Since the late 1970s, almost all turbine- driven refitted because of the high crude oil prices and the abandonment of the very high speed of 28 knots on diesel engine drive, as they consume significantly less fuel. Also, there were alterations in terms of the drive turbines of 2 /2 propellers on one turbine / 1 propeller, such as the four Hapag- Lloyd ships of type " Hamburg Express". The usual service speed of almost all large container ships then was 24, the end of the 2000s at about 25 knots.

The delivered in May 2006 by the People's shipyard Mærsk Boston as lead ship of seven very fast Panamax container ships reached with a 12 -cylinder Sulzer diesel a service speed of 29.2 knots and is the fastest container ship in the world. The Mærsk Boston has the following data: length 294.1 m, width 32.18 m, draft of 13.5 m, DWT 52400 t, 48853 GT, 4170 TEUs.

The built until 2005 the largest diesel engines are 12 - cylinder two-stroke in-line engines of type MAN B & W 12K98ME/MC with 69.1 MW of Wärtsilä - Sulzer 94-104/min or 12RT - flex96C Common Rail with 68.7 MW at 100 rpm.

A problem in achieving the 12,000-15,000 TEU container ships is the drive system. The owners want such container vessels if it appears economically. Important here is the cruising speed of 25 knots (plus reserves) to the ships ( if they drive in regular service ) to be able to integrate into existing rounds. When Emma Mærsk class a 14- cylinder diesel engine of the type Wartsila / Sulzer 14RT - flex96C is fitted with 108 908 hp instead of a previously widespread 12 - cylinder in-line diesel engine with 90,000 or 93,000 hp. The propeller has approximately 10.0 meters in diameter and weighs about 130 tons, to implement the larger motor power at the same speed of the motor ( 94-104/min ) in advance. The newly assigned in order largest container ships in the Maersk Line with a capacity of 18,000 TEU, the speed is reduced to 23 knots and built a two -screw propulsion.

In view of high fuel costs and an ongoing since mid-2008 shipping crisis, most of the ships go much slower than before the crisis ( "slow steaming" ). It can pay off even rebuild the bulbous bow and replace it with a form that is optimized for a lower speed. The new nose will save 1-2 % fuel.

Shipyards

Large container ships of over 7,000 TEUs will be built on the following shipyards:

Europe

Staalskibsværft Odense (Odense Steel Shipyard ), Denmark - 2012 closed -

East Asia

Container ships German shipyards

In the initial phase of containerization from 1968 to 1977 a considerable number of large container ships was built the 1st to the 3rd generation of German shipyards, which were at that time leader in this sector:

  • Blohm Voss, Hbg ( repair yard and Special and Naval Shipbuilding )
  • A. G. Weser, Bremen ( bankruptcy in the 1980s )
  • Bremer Vulkan, Bremen -Vegesack ( built in 1997 final (container ) ship, then bankruptcy )
  • German HDW - Werft (HDW ), ( abandoned plant) plant in Hamburg -Finkenwerder
  • HDW, Kiel plant ( built until today now and again small quantities of container ships )
  • Flenderwerft, Lübeck
  • North Sea works, Emden
  • Peene-Werft, Wolgast (numerous container ships up to 1800 TEU )
  • The largest ever built container ships (5 ships) have a capacity of 5468 TEU and were delivered to P & O Nedlloyd by Aker MTW, Wismar and Aker Kvaerner Warnow Werft, Warnemünde 1999/2000.

The currently largest built at a German shipyard container ships were built starting in autumn 2005 at the People's shipyard, Stralsund. The type of ship, the Maersk Boston was baptized on 24 March 2006 and delivered in May 2006. You are the type VWS4000 and measured 294.1 m Length oa and 32.18 m wide with a capacity of 4250 TEU. The drive consists of a 12 Sulzer RTA 96C diesel with 93,400 hp. Thus, a service speed of 29.2 knots is reached, it is the fastest container ships in the world.

Container ships in the 2500/2700 TEU ( type CV 2500/2700 ) built HDW in Kiel, SSW in Bremerhaven, North Sea plants in Emden, Blohm Voss Hbg, Stralsund shipyard, Aker shipyards in Wismar and Warnemünde.

For years a leader in the design and construction of container ships up to 1200 TEU size ( feeder vessels ), the shipyard JJ Sietas has been in Hamburg. Since early 2006, this yard also built larger container ships, the first 1700 TEU vessel was delivered with the Safmarine Mbashe. Meanwhile there the building of container ships has been set. In November 2011, the company went bankrupt.

Shipping companies

The largest container shipping lines in the world

In TEU

The 20 largest container ship lines will dominate in 2011 about 84 percent of the market.

The German shipping company Hapag -Lloyd AG from 1976 to 1983 with largest container shipping company in the world, for many years was no longer among the " Top 10" ranking. In August 2005, the acquisition of CP Ships by Hapag -Lloyd was announced. For this purpose, it required a capital of one billion euros. In October the acquisition was perfect. Hapag- Lloyd joins in order to place 6 in the large container shipping companies.

On 11 May 2005 it was officially announced that Maersk Sealand wants to take over for 2.96 billion U.S. dollars (equivalent to 2.3 billion euros ) P & O Nedlloyd. The P & O Nedlloyd 's shares was rated on May 10 with $ 41, Mærsk Sealand offered to shareholders in a scheduled until August 5, 2005 bid $ 57 per share. In mid-August 2005, the acquisition was completed. The P & O Nedlloyd in February 2006 no longer exists. It was fully integrated into the " Maersk Line". The acquisition of the market leader Maersk instead of twelve percent since then involved with 18 per cent of world container traffic.

Largest container ship fleets by country

By Nationality of owner following States had container ship fleets with more than 1000 gross tonnage per ship (number of vessels / capacity in thousand standard containers )

As of December 31, 2009

Lines and container shipping companies: mergers and acquisitions

Alliances

In 1969 on the route Europa-Australien/Neuseeland the conversion of the line service on container traffic with ships of the second generation ( ANZECS service). He was by Hapag- Lloyd, Germany, the Overseas Containers Limited (OCL ), Great Britain (a consortium of five major English shipping lines ), the Associated Container Transportation ( ACT), the United Kingdom, Nedlloyd, the Netherlands, the Australian National Line and Shipping Company of New Zealand founded.

The most important and strongest cargo shipping route is the Europe-Far East route. In 1968 it was decided to container traffic from the major shipping lines the changeover.

There were from 1971, the first major alliance, the TRIO- service ( by shipping companies from three countries established ). The conversion to container traffic meant for that time such a large investment, it could not finance shipping company alone. It was then the largest and fastest here the container ships of the third generation were set in the time from November 1971 to July 1973 in travel. The TRIO- service has been shipping companies NYK Line / Japan (3, 1976 from 4 ships), Mitsui OSK Lines / Japan (2, 1977 3 vessels), Hapag-Lloyd/Deutschland (4, 5 vessels from 1981 ), Overseas Container Line ( OCL) / United Kingdom ( 5, 7 ships in 1989, was later taken over by P & O) and Ben Line-Ellerman/Großbritannien ( 3 vessels) formed. The TRIO service was disbanded in early 1991, but continue to work Hapag- Lloyd and NYK to date with other shipping companies.

The second group was from 1972, the scan lines of the Dutch Service Wilh. Wilhelmsen / Norway, Det Østasiatiske Kompagni (EAC ) / Denmark, Broström / Sweden and Nedlloyd / Netherlands. CGM / France again in 1973, Malaysian Intern. Shipping Co. ( MISC ) ​​1977. Too, this alliance was terminated in 1991.

The third alliance was founded in 1975 with the ACE service (Asian container Europe) of the shipping companies K-Line/Japan, Orient Overseas Container Line ( OOCL ) / Hong Kong, Neptune Orient Lines ( NOL ) / Compagnie Maritime Belge and Singapore ( CMB) / Belgium.

From 1991 to 1996 there was an alliance between Maersk Line and P & O. From 1996 worked but market leader Maersk Line with the American Sea Land Corp.. together globally. The addition was so ideal, the Maersk shipping company in 1999, the U.S. has taken over almost completely.

Only from 1991 to 1993 there was the BEN- EAC service. These were the three Scandinavian shipping companies, as well as Ben Line and Ellermann. The BEN- EAC service has been completely taken over by Maersk Line in 1993.

From 1996 to 2001 there was the Global Alliance of lines Hapag -Lloyd, NYK, NOL and P & O. Royal Nedlloyd joined after the merger with P & O in 1997.

Began in 1977, container traffic between Europe, South Africa, called SAECS service, founded by the German shipping lines Africa, Hbg, Compagnie Maritime Belge, Royal Nedlloyd, Overseas Container Line ( later P & O) and Safmarine, South Africa. Here nine modern 2400 TEU twin screw diesel engines container ships were used. This service is also today still operated by Maersk Line, Safmarine, CGM ( only until the end of the 1990s ), and German Africa line, since February 2006, Mitsui OSK Lines added yet entered. Meanwhile, modern 4500-5000 -TEU ships ( Sling 1) and 1800 -TEU ships ( Sling 2 ) are used.

Current alliances

  • Grand Alliance, Hapag -Lloyd AG, Nippon Yusen Kaisha ( NYK ), Orient Overseas Container Line ( OOCL )
  • New World Alliance with American President Lines (APL ), Hyundai Merchant Marine, Mitsui OSK Lines
  • ( Established in late 2011 for the amalgamation of liner services in the Far East - Europe trade ) G6 Alliance of members of the Grand Alliance and New World Alliance
  • CKYHS group with COSCO / China, K-Line/Japan, Yang Ming / Hanjin Shipping and Taiwan / South Korea
  • P3 consortium consisting of the three largest container shipping companies Maersk Line, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company and Compagnie Maritime d' AFFRETEMENT Compagnie Générale Maritime CMA CGM, a permit from the antitrust assuming begin service from the 2nd quarter of 2014.

Outside operating alliances shipping companies

  • Evergreen Marine
Feeder ship Freight transport Containerterminal World economy SS Ideal X Malcom McLean Sea-Land Service Norddeutscher Lloyd Doosan Group Chiquita Brands International Dole Food Company Bow (ship) J. J. Sietas Knot (unit) Volkswerft Ocean liner Kure, Hiroshima Sakaide, Kagawa Mihara, Hiroshima AG Weser Nordseewerke Nordic Yards Wismar Scottsdale, Arizona China Shipping Container Lines Greece Contship Containerlines Blue Star Line Wilh. Wilhelmsen Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation National Geographic Channel Integrated Authority File
202104
de