Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd. (OOCL) held a naming ceremony for its new 16,828 TEU container ship OOCL Bauhinia at the Dalian COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co., Ltd. (DACKS) shipyard. The ship is the first of ten new-generation vessels ordered by OOCL and marks a new milestone for the company, which has commissioned its first NeoPanamax container ship in a decade.
The vessel is named after the Bauhinia flower, a symbol of Hong Kong, where the company has been based for 55 years. The 366.99 m long and 51 m wide OOCL Bauhinia meets all modern environmental standards and is equipped with innovative technologies to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions. The new container ship is also adapted to pass through the new Panama Canal locks and will serve the PCC1 route connecting Asia with the West Coast of the United States.
Peter Pan, Director and Member of the Executive Committee of OOCL, noted the importance of the latest technology implemented in the project: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to DACKS. After delivering 24,000 TEU vessels in the past, you have once again demonstrated exceptional craftsmanship in the construction of this new generation 16,000 TEU container ship. This vessel features advanced eco-friendly and energy-saving technologies, as well as large cargo capacity and high intelligence, achieving comprehensive world-class advantages. With the commissioning of the new vessel, OOCL aims to improve shipping efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and contribute to sustainable development.”