Lloyd's Register to class world's largest box ships

Lloyd's Register is to class Seaspan's new series of 9,200 TEU containerships, which are being built at Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) in Korea. Seaspan has ordered four vessels, with an option four more. The first ship in the series will be the largest containership ever constructed in the world.

Seaspan was also the first containership operator to break the 8,000 TEU barrier by ordering five vessels of 8,100 TEU earlier this year, which are also classed by Lloyd's Register and currently being built at SHI.

The 9,200 TEU container ships are the latest significant addition to the unprecedented high number of ships being built to Lloyd's Register class in Korea, where the society is involved in more than 180 vessels, amounting to nearly 10.3 million gross tonnes.

Rob Tustin, Principal Ship Surveyor and Manager of Lloyd's Register Asia's Korea Plan Approval Services in Pusan, says: "Seaspan, in co-operation with China Shipping Group, has shown itself to be at the forefront of the current push towards ever larger post-panamax vessels and the economies of scale they can bring, and we are delighted to be involved in this innovative and ground-breaking project."

"The winning of class for the 9,200 TEU, as well as the 8,100 TEU, Seaspan ships at Samsung, was the result of great efforts made by many groups and individuals within the Lloyd's Register Group," says Tustin."The close relationships formed internally with our clients during this work will stand us in good stead for the future. Furthermore, it is apparent from this success and the current status of our order book that both shipyards and owners recognize the abilities of Lloyd's Register."

Seaspan Ship Management Vice-President Peter Curtis, who is responsible for ship specification development, says: "The close cooperation developed during the plan approval phase of the 8,100 TEU vessels, along with a deep mutual understanding and the agreement to analyse aspects pertinent to large containerships which present greater risks than for smaller ships, were the cementing factors in the appointment of Lloyd's Register."