Evergreen Group has signed an order with Japanese shipbuilder Imabari for ten 2,800 TEU class B-type vessels. These are in addition to the order for ten similar vessels announced last month from CSBC in Taiwan.

The latest contract was signed by EMC Chairman Mr. Anchor Chang and Imabari Shipbuilding President Mr. Yukito Higaki. The first ship is planned to be delivered during the first half of 2018 with the completion of the series due by the first half of 2019. All twenty newbuildings are planned to be deployed in the intra-Asia trade.

Evergreen's B-type vessels will be 211 meters in length, 32.8 meters wide, and have a design draft of 10 meters with a capacity of around 2,800 TEU. The ships are designed to load 13 rows of containers on deck, which is within the span of existing gantry cranes in the major ports on the intra-Asian trade. The hull design of the vessels is wider in comparison to ships of a similar capacity. Such design enables the ships to navigate in the shallower ports encountered in the intra-Asia trade and to enhance their cargo carrying capability. The ships can cruise at a speed up to 21.8 knots, enhancing their on-time performance and competitiveness.

Vessels operating on regional trades, such as intra-Asia, often sail in coastal areas. With frequent port calls, these ships operate in close proximity to human activity and the living environment. To reduce their impact on port communities and eco-systems, Evergreen has imposed stringent eco-friendly criteria on their operation. The B-type vessels are equipped with various environmental protection devices and the latest technology to safeguard the sustainable development of the marine environment. The ships are also to be equipped with an electronic-controlled fuel injection engine, which meets the IMO Tier II standards for NOx emission and the requirements of Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), and can reduce emissions by around 20% in comparison with vessels of traditional designs.

Founded in 1901, Imabari Shipbuilding is Japan's largest shipbuilder. The agreement for B-type vessels is the third project in which Imabari will participate in Evergreen Line's fleet renewal program. Evergreen has signed agreements with Shoei Kisen Kaisha, the ship owning arm of Imabari Shipbuilding Group, to charter five 14,000 TEU containerships to be delivered in 2017 and eleven 18,000 TEU containerships to be delivered in 2018 and 2019.