China takes container shipping to whole new dimensions

The world's largest container ship, Xin Los Angeles, has been delivered by Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) to Lloyd's Register class.

The 336.7m ship is owned by China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) and is operated by China International Ship Management Company, a joint venture between CSCL and UK-based V.Ships.

It is 9,600 teu (20ft equivalent, a unit of measurement equal to the space occupied by a standard 20ft container) and is the first in a series of eight being built by SHI. The ship will trade initially from China to Europe and eventually the US.

Xin Los Angeles can carry a maximum of 18 rows of containers by eight tiers on the weather deck and 16 rows by 10 tiers in the holds. It is propelled by an MAN B&W 12K98MC-C Mk6 engine, with a power of 68,520kW, which is said to have achieved a ballast service speed of 25.4 knots.