Lomar announces order for up to six new design, fuel-efficient Wenchong 2,200 TEU container ships

March 1, 2012

Lomar, the shipping subsidiary of the Libra Group, signs new order with GWS China for latest generation container vessels

Lomar has signed an order with the Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard in South China, for up to six new container ships. Scheduled for delivery starting from early 2014, the 2190 nominal TEU capacity vessels (14mt/TEU homogenous load of 1570 TEU) have been designed by leading Chinese design institute SDARI (Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute) and meet the highest standards for fuel efficiency and environmental compliance. The investment restates Lomar’s dedication to container shipping with renewals and additions to the fleet which benefit from the latest fuel-efficient designs, and follows the company’s order earlier this year for up to six new bulk carriers from China’s COSCO Group.

The order takes Lomar’s current fleet close to 50 vessels. The new hull-optimised ships offer improved performance compared with existing container vessels of the same size by providing significant savings on fuel consumption, and at a wide range of speeds in comparison to those presently in the market.

“We are re-investing in our fleet with these new vessels,” said Achim Boehme, CEO of Lomar. “Wenchong has a very strong reputation for delivering excellent quality container vessels and being among the best shipyards in the ‘feeder’ size sector. We look forward to taking delivery of these newbuildings which will enhance our existing portfolio and allow us to stay competitive, continuing to offer a comprehensive service across the whole of Lomar with a modern, fuel-efficient fleet.”

Lomar is the shipping subsidiary of the Libra Group, a diversified international business group. The company has a mixed fleet of vessels including bulk carriers, container ships, LPG and chemical tankers as well as offshore vessels. Libra’s other transportation interests include its aviation leasing subsidiary, LCI, which is also involved in the offshore sector and has recently placed an order for a fleet of new generation AgustaWestland helicopters.

For further information, please contact:

Charlie Hampton
Account Director
Bell Pottinger Business & Brand
Tel: +44 (0)20 7861 2424
champton@bell-pottinger.co.uk

Gareth Zundel
Head of Communications
Libra Group
Tel: +44 (0)20 7245 8700
gareth.zundel@libra.com