On Oct. 4, APL welcomed the latest addition to its global
fleet with the naming of a 9,200 20-foot equivalent unit containership, the APL
Savannah, at the Port of Los Angeles. It was the first time ever for a
ship christening to take place at the port.
“This is the first time a mayor of Los Angeles has helped
christen a ship,” LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, a lieutenant in the US Navy Reserve,
said. “I’m not just here because I enjoy champagne; I want to make sure APL and
shipping industry know that you are a priority for me and my administration
because more than 900,000 regional jobs depend on this port working.”
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).
APL Savannah and her sister ships are the largest in the APL
fleet to sail between Asia and the US on the South Asia Express (SAX) service,
rotating ports in San Pedro, Busan, Kaohsiung, Chiwan, Yantian and Singapore.
APL says the new 9,200-TEU series of vessels is designed for
greater operational efficiency and more environmentally sustainable operations.
For example, an optimized hull form reduces hull resistance and results in less
fuel consumed for propulsion.
The APL Savannah’s fuel efficiency,
measured by the Energy Efficiency Design Index, is certified to be 30.54
percent better than guidelines set by the International Maritime Organization.
“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,” Ng Yat Chung,
Group President and CEO of NOL, said.
A ceremonial champagne bottle was broken over the ship hull
by Jeannie Lavers, Director of International Transportation for Kohl’s
Department Stores.
