HYUNDAI ORDERS FIVE 6,400-TEU CONTAINERSHIPS

   Hyundai Merchant Marine has ordered five containerships of 6,400-TEU capacity, making it the fourth containership operator in the world to have ordered very large vessels of more than 6,000-TEU.
    P&O Nedlloyd Container Line and Maersk Line already have taken delivery of such ships. Next year, Sea-Land Service will take five 6,200-TEU ships on charter that were ordered by Greek charter owner Costamare Shipping.
    The big vessels will be delivered to the Korean carrier in 2001.
The ships are expected to be deployed in the transpacific trade, where Hyundai operates as part of the New World Alliance alongside APL and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.
    The largest container vessels in Hyundai’s fleet so far are seven 5,551-TEU ships built in 1996. Five of the big ships are employed in the PSW transpacific loop of the New World Alliance.