The Annita Bhum, Benyapar Bhum, and
Chantisa Bhum were named at the shipbuilders Longxue Yard in Guangzhou on 24
September. The naming ceremony was
attended by RCL’s senior leadership, Dr. Jamlong Atikul, Chairman of the Board
of Directors, Sumate Tanthuwanit, Chairman of the Executive Committee of RCL,
and Dr. Twinchok Tanthuwanit, President of RCL, along with industry guests and
stakeholders. The three newbuilds are
the first in a series of eight container ships being built by RCL at CSSC
Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding.
RCL is the world’s 23rd largest container
line according to analyst Alphaliner with 32 vessels and combined capacity pf
91,433 teu. The companies capacity is set more than double with 28 newbuildings
on order with a total capacity of 143,852 teu, representing 157.3% of its
existing fleet. The latest vessels
named in China will be deployed into RCL’s fleet in October and November this
year. The Annita Bhum will join its Far East Latin America service in Shanghai
on 19 October, and Benyapar Bhum will be added to the Far East Madras 2 service
also on 19 October. The Chantisa Bhum will be joining RCL’s South China
Indonesia service on 20 November.