• MV Copiapó and MV Cautín are the first of a series of seven 9,300 Teu containerships.
  • This acquisition, will allow CSAV to have one of the most modern and efficient owned fleets of the industry.

Geoje, South Korea, October 29, 2014. Containerships "Copiapó" and "Cautín" were christened this morning in South Korea; they are the first of the seven new container vessels ordered by Compañía Sudamericana de Vapores (CSAV) which will enable it to increase its own fleet. The ceremony was attended by the chairman of the board of CSAV, Francisco Pérez Mackenna, and its chief executive officer, Oscar Hasbún.

"The integration of these vessels is part of the company's restructuring strategy which included an increase on its own fleet. In this context the company made a significant capital injection for the acquisition of assets", said Oscar Hasbún.

He added that "these state-of-the-art newbuilds will allow us to reduce fuel consumption costs significantly. Their incorporation will also replace part of the chartered vessels, so by the end of 2015 about 50% of our fleet will be owned by CSAV, one of the most modern and efficient of the industry".

The ceremony was also attended by the Ambassador of Chile to Korea, Hernán Brantes, and his wife, Rosanna Bellolio; the executive vice president of Samsung Heavy Industries, Mr. J.K. Kim, and his wife, Mrs. In-Shin, Kim. Both were the sponsors of the new vessels.

New technologies

A large container carrying capacity with last generation fuel saving systems to operate at low as well as high speed, are some of the main features of the seven new containerships ordered by CSAV to the Korean shipyard Samsung Heavy Industries.

The fuel consumption of the main engine will be approximately 7% less than the vessels received from 2011 and around 25% lower than the average of vessels of this size currently in operation in the industry. They also have a 4.5% increase in the cargo capacity.

These containerships have a slot capacity of 9,300 Teus and can reach speeds of 10 to 22 knots at maximum load. They are fitted with 1,400 plugs for refrigerated containers and their Twin Island design allows for maximum use of spaces, increasing the capacity of cargo on deck and keeping the dimensions within ranges that are very convenient for manoeuvres.

MV Copiapó will be delivered on November 26 and will start operations in Shanghai on the trade between Asian ports and the Persian Gulf; while MV Cautín will be received on December 18 and will operate on the service linking the ports of Northern Europe with the East Coast of South America.

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