New NOL ship can boost fuel efficiency by 20-30%

Singapore shipping firm Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) has added a new, eco-friendly vessel to its fleet as part of a renewal program that will help the firm reduce costs.
The APL Temasek can carry 14,000 20-ft equivalent units (TEU), or shipping containers, and is the largest of its kind to be registered in Singapore.
NOL estimates it can improve fuel efficiency by about 20 to 30% for a speed range of 15 to 18 knots compared with previous designs.
APL Temasek is the first in a series of 10 14,000-TEU vessels on order by the Singapore-based shipping and logistics group.
“We are modernizing our fleet, improving our cost structure and investing in the future,” said Chairman Kwa Chong Seng, in a statement on March 25, 2013.
“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 APL Temasek follows the addition of 10 new 10,000-TEU ships between 2011 and last year.
These new vessels are part of a US$4 billion fleet renewal program aimed at improving NOL’s slot cost, or the cost per container carried on its ships.
It is replacing older, less efficient ships, which 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,” said Seng.
(March 26, 2013)