Charleston-Express

EVERGREEN has received the 13,808-TEU Thalassa Niki from Greek owner Enesel, the sixth ship in a series of 10 neo-overpanamax ULCS ordered by Enesel in July 2012 from Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI). The newbuilding purchase was backed by ten-year charters with Evergreen. The company paid US$116.5 million for each ship versus $160-170 million paid by other owners at the peak of the market in 2008. The previous vessel in the series, the Thalassa Avra, was delivered in May. She has been deployed on the carrier's Asia-Europe (CEM) service, as part of the new CKYHE offering. The CKYH partners brand the service 'NE 5'. The loop was previously operated by 8,500-TEU containerships, until these vessels are gradually replaced by the 10 new mega ships that are all to be delivered by September, reported Alphaliner.