The latest addition to Israel’s merchant marine, the 29,000 ton container ship Zim Keelung, arrived here this week on her delivery voyage from Holland and sails tomorrow on her maiden voyage to the Far East via U.S. ports. The $40 million diesel-powered vessel, described as “one of the most advanced ships in the world”, is equipped with sophisticated electronic systems for navigation, safety and loading and an automated power plant which is expected to save about 30 percent in fuel costs.
The Zim Keelung can carry up to 888 40-foot containers. She will be operated on the Zim Lines’ “three continent service” which presently employs seven other large containerships on 112-day round voyages from Israel and Mediterranean ports to the U.S. east and west coasts, Japan and Hong Kong. Her builders, the Van Der Giessen shipyards in Holland, are constructing two sisterships for the Zim Lines at the “distress” rate of $40 million apiece which reflects the current depression in the world shipbuilding industry.
When they are delivered next February, Zim will increase the frequency of its “three continent service” to three sailings a month. According to the company, this will make it the world’s second largest operator of container ships.
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