More chartered vessels calling here for the first time over the next week or so are the container ships Algarrobo and Welle, on the Tanjung Pelepas service, Christa Rickmers on the CMA CGM Port Kelang operation, plus the largest vessel to loads logs at Dunedin, Falcon Trader II.
Liberian-flag Algarrobo is a 32,901gt, 34,700dwt, 225.09m long vessel having a container capacity of 2750 TEU. Another product of China's expansive shipbuilding industry, it was built at Zhousan by the Yangfan Group Co Ltd.
Obviously, construction did not create any fast-building records as the vessel, Yard No 2052, was laid down on May 12, 2006, launched on August 27, 2008, and delivered on June 20, 2009. The Dalian Marine Diesel Co supplied the propulsion machinery, a seven-cylinder 22,890kW unit that gives a service speed of 22.20 knots.
Algarrobo is owned by a funding company with the title of FHH Fonds Nr.39 ms Algarroba GmbH and Co KG, and part of the NSC Holdings group of Hamburg.
The ship is one of eight sister ships operated by NSC. All told, NSC controls 35 container ships ranging from 1118 TEU to 5085 TEU, plus 11 multipurpose vessels, four bulkers and two car carriers.
Welle has only been trading under this name since July, and was formerly named Nordwelle. Now owned by Schiffs m.s. Welle mbh and Co.K.G. and registered at Limassol, it has been controlled since new by Klaus E. Oldendorff's Reederei "Nord" Ltd.
Completed on November 8, 2005, the 26,611gt, 2602 TEU, is of the same design as Maersk Norwich in port last month. Both were built at Changwon by the STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Co.
Christa Rickmers has been around quite a bit since it was built by the Stocznia Sczecinska yard in Poland. Its keel was laid down on July 28,1995, and it was completed on December 27, 1995.
The first of the B1703 type vessels to be built, it was launched as Christa Rickmers on September 6, 1995.
It entered service as CCNI Arauco and over the years has reverted to its launching name on three occasions, most recently in June.
In between times it has been chartered out in order as Pacific Challenger, CSAV Manzanillo, and Pacific Independence.
Owned within the Rickmers group by ms "Christa Rickmers" GmbH of Hamburg, it flies the flag of Antigua and Barbuda. This smaller 16,800gt. 183.94m, 19-knot vessel can carry 1694 TEU.
To date and from April, 2010, 22 consignments of logs have been loaded at Leith wharf Dunedin by vessels ranging in size from the 14,762gt Voge Renate to the 28,085gt Aetos.
Falcon Trader II, due at the berth next week, is a larger 30,660gt handymax bulk carrier that has a deadweight of 54,924 tonnes. On charter to Pacific Basin Shipping of Hong Kong, the Manila-registered ship is operated by Seafarers Shipping Inc, also of Manila.
The 189.99m long, 14.5-knot bulker was built by the Oshima shipyard and has been in service since January 9, 2009. After loading at Dunedin the ship will move down to Beach St to take on more cargo.
