Ship ahoy: NOL unveils largest, 'greenest' container vessel

More to come from its US$4b worth of new fleet.

The NOL Group today welcomed its newest, largest, and most environmentally-friendly vessel to its fleet. The 14,000-TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) container ship was officially named APL Temasek in a ceremony in Singapore by Mrs Mary Tan, spouse of the Republic’s President. 

The vessel’s name was inspired by the old name of Singapore, meaning ‘Sea Town’. NOL said that APL Temasek’s sister ships will likewise be named after icons of the island state.

APL Temasek is the first in a series of ten 14,000-TEU vessels on order by the Singapore-based shipping and logistics group. She is also the largest container ship to be registered in Singapore.

“Today, we celebrate a landmark in NOL’s history,” said NOL Group Chairman Mr Kwa Chong Seng. “We are modernizing our fleet, improving our cost structure, and investing in the future.

To compete successfully in today’s marketplace, we must ensure that we have the most competitive product with the latest technology, design and sustainability features.”

The delivery of NOL’s first 14,000-TEU ship comes on the heels of ten new 10,000-TEU ships which joined the fleet between 2011 and 2012. These newbuildings are part of a US$4 billion fleet renewal programme aimed at improving NOL’s slot cost.

They are replacing older, less efficient ships that are either sold or returned to charter owners.

“With the delivery of this new series, we are on track to fulfill current and future requirements for more economical and environmentally-sustainable ship operations,” continued Mr Kwa. 

The 14,000-TEU series of ships feature several innovations that improve operational efficiency. For example, its S-type long-stroke main engine is equipped with electronic fuel injection which is optimised to operate at various loads efficiently.

In addition, its specially designed bow and broader hull form improve operating efficiency at various speeds, especially for slow steaming. NOL estimates that with the new design, it is able to improve fuel efficiency by about 20% to 30% per TEU for a speed range of 15-18 knots, compared to previous designs.

By consuming less fuel, this new series of ships will also emit less carbon emissions. Its fuel efficiency, measured by the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), is certified to be 33% better than guidelines set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). 

The APL Temasek is currently plying the Asia-Europe trade on the Loop 4 service.