COSCO Shipping takes delivery of 20,000 TEU ship

Abiodun Oba I

COSCO Shipping Corporation, a Chinese container shipping major, has taken delivery of its fifth 20,000 TEU containership, COSCO Shipping Virgo.

Built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, the ship is 399.8 meters long and 58.6 meters wide. It boasts a deck area equivalent to almost four standard football fields and can achieve a speed of 22.5 nautical miles per hour.

COSCO Shipping Virgo has a maximum carrying capacity of 20,119 TEU, and it is equipped with 1,000 reefer sockets.

The giant boxship was classed by both DNV GL and China Classification Society.

According to COSCO, the ship’s fuel consumption and energy-efficiency have been optimized through latest energy-saving rudder and propulsion systems. In addition, the ship is equipped with intelligent ship management systems and allows for one-man bridge operation.

It is worth USD 122.95 million, based on the valuation from VesselsValue.

The delivery of COSCO Shipping Virgo comes on the back of four 20,000 TEU boxships delivered since the beginning of this year.

COSCO Shipping Taurus, also built by SWS, and COSCO Shipping Aries, built by Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering (NACKS) were delivered in January this year.

COSCO Shipping Leo and COSCO Shipping Gemini followed suit in March and April respectively.