The MSC, Mediterranean Shipping Company in Geneva, Switzerland is today one of the largest world wide container ship operator and has initiated about two years ago an ambitious renewal program for its container ship fleet. Many older ships were sold for demolition and larger, modern ships were ordered from the Far East.
From the South Korean shipyard DSME, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd., Okpo Shipyard, Geoje-si, a series of over 20 container ships of the 14,000 TEU class were ordered, partly also in collaboration with the German shipping company Reederei Claus-Peter Offen of Hamburg.
The "MSC DANIT", the first vessel delivered, was named on March 26th 2009 and delivered by the builders same day to her owners Dordellas Finance Corporation, Panama (Management: MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A., Genève, Switzerland), (Technical management: MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co. S.r.l., Via Francesco Ciampa, 29. I-80063 Piano di Sorrento (NA), Italy). The vessel was named after Danit Simkin, the daughter of the director of MSC Israel, Mr. Edni Simkin. She will trade on the line North Europe to the Far East.
The "MSC DANIT" was built under hull number 4135. Her keel was laid on November 4th 2008 and the launching was on December 27th 2008. She is 365.50 m long, 51.20 m wide (Olympia swimming pool 50.00 m long) and has a depth (from keel to main deck) of 29.90 m (10-12 story building). The vessel has a deadweight of 165,517 metric tonnes on a summer draught of 16.00 m. Her container capacity is about 14,000 TEU*). IMO No. 9404649. Official No. 4051309, call sign: 3FZU8.
The nine deck high bridge superstructure is separated from the aft engine room and its engine casing/funnel superstructure and is situated about one third from the bow. This location improves the visibility, as demanded by IMO-regulations and aft of the bridge, containers can be stowed on deck 9 tiers high, enhancing the carrying capacity.
Propulsion is by one 12-cylinder, slow speed, crosshead diesel engine of MAN-B&W design, type: 12K98MC-C, constructed by Doosan Engine Co. Ltd., Changwon, Korea. The power developed is 72,240 kW (98,220 BHP) at 104 RPM, which gives the vessel a speed of about 24.10 knots. Two tunnel bow thrusters are fitted (2000 kW, each).
Remark:
*) 14,000 TEU (TEU = Twenty foot Equivalent Unit) is a very theoretical figure and the ship can never carry all containers fully loaded, it would exceed the deadweight of 165,517 metric tonnes by far, for example, take one container as 25 metric tonnes (22 metric tonnes cargo, plus 3 metric tonnes for its own weight = 25 metric tonnes) x 14,000 gives 350,000 metric tonnes.
Therefore, if we take the deadweight of 165,517 metric tonnes, deduct 11,517 metric tonnes for fuel, water and equipment/stores, remains 154,000 metric tonnes t for cargo, divided by 14,000 TEU, results in a weight of 11 metric tonnes per one container. Additionally, it is also a question of stability; the loaded containers have to be stowed low and the empty ones on the top. Stowing plans for container vessels are drawn up since many years in the offices of the shipping companies, using computers.