(Commonwealth) _ Ocean Network Express (ONE) has completed the delivery and integration of a new class of ultra-large container vessels, setting two impressive industry records in the process. Within just six years of its formation by three major Japanese shipping companies, the company has solidified its position in the market. This achievement involves the incorporation of six ultra-large container ships into its operations, designed specifically to enhance container handling efficiency. With a remarkable capacity rating of 24,136 TEU, these vessels boast unique design features, including a bow screen that facilitates loading containers farther forward onto the mooring deck. They also implement cutting-edge technology to prevent brittle crack propagation in their ultra-thick, high-strength steel plates, contributing to increased loading efficiency. Each ship accommodates 24 rows of containers and can carry up to 2,000 reefer units.
These vessels, measuring 1,312 feet (399.95 meters) in length and 201 feet (61.4 meters) in width, are registered in Liberia and are operated by a crew of 34 members. The pinnacle of their achievement, however, lies in the record-breaking loading capacity. The first vessel of this class, the ONE Innovation, which joined the fleet in June 2023, recently achieved a monumental feat by loading 22,000 TEU while docked in Singapore on December 14. ONE proudly celebrates this remarkable accomplishment, marking the second consecutive world record for laden load achieved by this exceptional class of vessel. Just about a month before this latest achievement, another member of the same class, the ONE Integrity, set the previous record. Loaded in Singapore on November 11 and 12, it carried an impressive 21,954 TEUs. However, the recent accomplishment by ONE Innovation surpassed this milestone by adding 46 more containers during its loading process. Designed to be among the largest vessels capable of transiting the Suez Canal, the record-breaking ship has been redirected during its ongoing voyage. Presently, the vessel carrying the record load is off the east coast of Africa, charting a course around the Cape of Good Hope. Expected to arrive in Rotterdam by January 15, the ONE Innovation faces an altered route from its original transit plan.
Following closely behind are its sister ships: the recently delivered ONE Inspiration and the final vessel of the six-ship group, ONE Intelligence. Ordered at the close of 2020, these ships were constructed by Nihon Shipbuilding, with Imabari Shipbuilding and Japan Marine United Corp splitting the work. The last vessel, ONE Intelligence, from Imabari’s Saijo yard, is en route to Ningbo, China, scheduled to reach its destination by December 28. Operated under a long-term charter to ONE by Shoei Kisen, it will soon join the service route to Northern Europe. These vessels are powered by a 62,000 kW MAN B&W main engine, affording them a service speed of 22 knots. Enhanced operating efficiency is achieved through features like the bow bulb’s shape, fins, a twisted rudder, and an onboard management system. To mitigate environmental impact, they are equipped with a hybrid-type EGCS SOx scrubber and designed for the use of shore power wherever available. Nihon Shipbuilding reports exceptionally high fuel efficiency for this vessel type. At present, ONE ranks as the sixth-largest container carrier with a capacity of 1.8 million TEU, rapidly gaining ground on Hapag-Lloyd. With 232 vessels currently in operation and an additional 33 on order, amounting to an extra 400,000 TEU of capacity, ONE’s impending expansion brings it into a virtual tie with Hapag-Lloyd for the fifth position in the container shipping sector, as per Alphaliner’s current data.
