The 19,224 TEU MSC Oliver returned from sea trials this weekend ahead of next month’s expected delivery to Mediterranean Shipping Company from the DSME shipyard in Okpo, South Korea.
MSC Oliver will join sister ship MSC Oscar, the world’s biggest ship by TEU carrying capacity since its delivery November 2014, serving the Albatross string on MSC’s new East-West trade routes between Asia and Europe.
The first two ships will be by followed by 18 additional vessels with a capacity over 19,000 TEU by 2016. MSC Oscar and Oliver however are the first of six ultra large containerships (ULCS) in the Olympic Series, which will all be delivered by November 2015.
MSC has described the MSC Oscar as the “most efficient vessel on the planet”, with 35% more cargo capacity and 35% less CO2 emissions compared to other vessels. In addition to economies of scale, the vessels achieve greater efficiency with a diesel main engine that optimizes fuel consumption based on changing conditions.
The ship spent February and March making its maiden calls to ports across east Asia and Europe.
In a recent interview with CNN, Mediterranean Shipping Company CEO Diego Aponte defended the company’s ultra-large newbuild orderbook and addressed some the challenges that are facing the global shipping industry today.
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