APL has welcomed the latest addition to its global fleet with the naming of a 9,200 TEU containership at the Port of Los Angeles.
The APL Savannah is the fifth in a series of twelve 9,200-TEU vessels to be delivered to APL, the container shipping arm of Singapore-based shipping and logistics company Neptune Orient Lines (NOL), and is also the first containership to be named and christened at the Port of Los Angeles.
“Today, we celebrate our long history of more than 160 years in the US, and our commitment to and investment in the Trans-Pacific trade,” said Ng Yat Chung, group president and CEO of NOL. “We are upsizing and upgrading our ships calling here, and remain firmly committed to provide our customers a competitive product with comprehensive service coverage and leading customer service.”
APL Savannah and her sister ships are the largest in the APL fleet to ply the Trans-Pacific trade between Asia and the US on the South Asia Express service, rotating ports in San Pedro, Busan, Kaohsiung, Chiwan, Yantian and Singapore.
The group said the new 9,200 TEU series of vessels is designed for greater operational efficiency and more environmentally-sustainable operations.
Its fuel efficiency, measured by the Energy Efficiency Design Index, is certified to be 30.54 per cent better than guidelines set by the International Maritime Organisation.
“APL has taken active steps to invest in green technology on our new ships to minimise our carbon footprint and promote sustainable global trade,” said Kenneth Glenn, president of APL. “In addition to several environmentally-friendly innovations introduced onboard, we are happy to confirm that the APL Savannah and her sister ships calling at the port are ready for cold-ironing, ahead of the implementation deadline.'
