Hong Kong-based TS Lines has taken in charge the TS YOKOHAMA,
second of four 1,096 teu ships that Kyokuyo Shipyard of Japan
builds for this carrier. TS Lines had ordered the first two ships in December
2017 and the carrier six months later returned to Kyokuyo to
place two more orders.

The new vessels are based on the ‘Kyokuyo 1100′ design, of which
twelve units have been built since 2011. The type has an Loa of
142.00 m, a breadth of 22.50 m (nine rows) and is fitted with 190
reefer plugs.

An MAN-B&W S46ME six-cylinder engine rated at 7,300 kW propels
the ships at a commercial speed of 18 knots. While the first to units
of the type for TS Lines were built without scrubbers, their sisters
ships three and four, scheduled for April and July 2020, will be fitted
with exhaust gas cleaning devices.
The TS YOKOHAMA follows the TS SHANGHAI, delivered in August.
The new vessel had been assigned to TS Lines’ ‘JTK’ service, connecting
Japan, Taiwan, South China and Northern Vietnam.

Hong Kong-based TS Lines has taken in charge the 1,808 teu TS
QINGDAO, fifth of six ‘Bangkokmax’ ships that the carrier is to receive
from CSBC of Taiwan.

TS Lines had ordered the first two vessels July 2015, with two more
orders placed in May 2016 and another two in March 2018.
Built at CSBC’s Keelung yard, the gearless ships are examples of the
CSBC 1800 wide-beam Mk-II type of which more than 20 units have
been delivered since 2014.

The design has a length of 171.99 m and a breadth of 27.50 m
(eleven rows). With their compact dimensions, the wide-beam ships
cannot only serve Bangkok city, but also numerous smaller ports with
vessel size constraints.

The TS QINGDAO is propelled by a six-cylinder MAN-B&W S60MEC8.5
engine. So far unequipped in terms of exhaust gas cleaning, the
new vessel is slated for a scrubber retrofit in Q1 2020. In the CSBC
1800 WB Mk-II series, she follows the TS OSAKA. This ship was delivered
in January 2018, shortly before TS Lines placed orders for two
more units.

The TS QINGDAO is to join this week the Korea – China – Thailand service
jointly offered by TS Lines, KMTC and Heung-A, branded ‘CHT’ by
TSL and ‘KCT’ by the two Korean partners. Here, she replaces the
chartered 1,708 teu MILLENIUM BRIGHT, which will be redelivered to
her owners.

From: Alphaliner