Greener ships eclipse Safmarines retiring 3,000-TEU giants of yesteryear

SAFMARINE is bidding farewell to the first four "Big Whites", 3,000-TEU vessels, the Helderberg, the Winterberg, the Sederberg and the Waterberg, that have been in service for nearly 30 years and will be replaced next year by greener, leaner ships.

The old ships will be phased out of the Safmarine fleet by August 2008, after completing their current charters when they return to their owners as the shipping line takes delivery of seven new vessels next year.

"It is important that Safmarine invests in new, more eco-friendly and technologically-advanced ships," said Safmarine CEO Ivan Heesom-Green.

In 2002 Safmarine had sold the four "Big Whites" for undisclosed sums to overseas owners before chartering them back the same year on a bare boat basis so they could operate in the Safmarine fleet, the company said.

Built in France in the 1970s, the four had been called 'Big Whites' because of their large size and white hulls, which was said to have reflected the bright South African sunshine on their regular port calls.

Said Mr Heesom-Green: "Safmarine is sad to bid farewell to these reliable ships which have served South Africa, Safmarine and our customers well for three decades. It is also worth noting these four ships, along with sister ships from other lines, were deployed on the South Africa-Europe trade for 25 years and that it is unusual to have ships deployed together for this length of time on a single trade lane."