News / Capacity injection for east-west trades as more ULCVs are delivered

CMA CGM Pantheon. Photo: CMA CGM

East-west tradelanes saw some capacity injected over the past two weeks as several large containerships were delivered.

This week, CMA CGM took delivery of the 24,212 teu CMA CGM Pantheon from Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, the second of a series of ten Jacques Saade-class LNG-powered vessels commissioned in mid-2023 – each has 1,600 reefer plugs.

Alphaliner said the Pantheon would join the French line’s FAL1 (branded NEU4 by other Ocean Alliance members) Asia-Europe service, operated with a mixed fleet of 21,000-24,000 teu ships and 10 of around 17,000 teu.

And fellow Ocean member Evergreen this week took delivery of the 16,556 teu Ever Even from Samsung Heavy Industries, the sixth of 16 methanol dual-fuelled ships ordered from the South Korean shipbuilder in mid-2023.

Ever Even enters service on the alliance’s Asia-Europe NEU7 service, which Evergreen markets as the CES, replacing the 11,800 teu Ever Fit. The service deploys a mixed fleet of 20,000 teu ships,  with two of 14,000 and 15,000 teu.

Last week, shipowner Danaos took delivery of the 8,258 teu Express Santorini from Yangzijiang, the first of seven ships contracted for long-term charter to Hapag-Lloyd, which during the peak season for Asia-Europe shipping, will first deploy it on the Gemini Cooperation’s AE1/NE2 service, before reassigning the vessel to the transatlantic TA2/AL3 route.

George Economou’s TMS group this week took delivery of the 7,900 teu Agate, the first of four ships ordered at HJ Shipbuilding for long-term charter to Zim for intra-Asia ad hoc sailings. However the Israeli carrier will phase the ship into its Central China Xpress (ZX2) transpacific loop by the end of the month.

Last week, Imabari Shipbuilding delivered the 13,932 teu ONE Summit, the 11th of 15 sister ships commissioned by Japanese-owned, Singapore-based ONE for its Asia-US East Coast EC3 loop, operated with Premier Alliance partners Yang Ming and HMM.

Finally, Taiwanese operator Wan Hai took delivery of 8,710 teu Wan Hai 903 from Hyundai Samho last week. The third of four ships ordered at the South Korean shipbuilder in 2024, it will go to Wan Hai’s standalone Far East-Red Sea-East Mediterranean service.