DNV GL Welcomes World's Largest Containership to Class

MSC Oscar. Photo: DNV GL

DNV GL on Thursday announced that it has welcomed the MSC Oscar containership into its class, which at 19,224 TEU is the world’s largest containership by carrying capacity.

The MSC Oscar was delivered to MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) in Geoje, South Korea, in January and is already plying its trade on the new East-West service.

Speaking to the size of the vessel, DNV GL notes that in fewer than 20 years the loading capacity of containerships has exploded, with the length of the biggest vessel also increasing from 300 to 400 meters during that same time. As for the MSC Oscar, the ship measures in at 395.4m long and 59m wide with a draft of 16m. DNV GL says that the vessel is also unique for its wide beam design and use of torsion box and hatch coaming plates with steel plate thickness up to 100mm. The vessel is also able to carry dangerous goods in holds, and approximately 1,800 reefer containers.

The MSC Oscar was initially specified at 18,000TEU, but was later expanded during the building phase to add an extra tier above decks. The ship’s cargo capacity has also been enhanced by implementing the DNV GL’s RSCS class notation (Route Specific Container Stowage), providing a more efficient usage of cargo capacity with more flexibility for laden containers on board for specific routes.

In addition to its remarkable cargo carrying capacity, the MSC Oscar is also dsigned with a number of efficiency enhancing features, such as the engine which has been optimized so that fuel consumption can be automatically controlled to take into account both speed and weather conditions.

“We are very pleased to mark this historic event with MSC, given our longstanding business relationship,” said Jan-Olaf Probst, Global Ship Type Director at DNV GL – Maritime. “DNV GL is proud to have been a part of MSC’s growth into a world leader in container shipping and we hope to be able to continue our successful cooperation for many years to come. MSC’s decision to construct MSC Oscar and its upcoming newbuildings according to the DNV GL regulations reflects a clear focus for quality, maximum efficiency and an awareness of the need for a more sustainable industry.”

At DSME, construction of MSC Oscar took only eleven months to be completed from steel cutting to delivery. The ship is the first of six of the “Olympic Series” of ultra large containerships (ULCS) for MSC. The remaining sister vessels of the series are expected to be completed by November 2015.

DNV GL says that MSC has 18 more vessels over 19,000 TEU on order. The next ship, MSC Oliver, is expected to be delivered in April and will also be classed by DNV GL.