OOCL Norfolk named at Geoje Shipyard, Korea

February 06, 2009

OOCL is proud to announce on February 6, 2009, the christening of the seventh Panamax class vessel in our line of sixteen 4,500-TEU vessels ordered from Samsung Heavy Industries.

The new vessel was christened the m.v. OOCL Norfolk by sponsor Mrs Renate Kuznik, the wife of Mr Harald Kuznik, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Shipping of HSH Nordbank. Mr. S.Y. Bae, President and Shipyard General Manager of Samsung Heavy Industries, hosted the ceremony at Geoje.

"OOCL has an invaluable partnership with HSH-Nordbank, and we are grateful for the support that HSH-Nordbank has provided to OOCL in financing both this and a significant number of our other vessels.” said Mr Ken Cambie, Chief Financial Officer, OOIL, speaking at the vessel’s christening ceremony in Korea.

“We are proud to name the vessel after the dynamic Port of Norfolk in Virginia, US. The Port of Norfolk is a vibrant trading hub on the East Coast of the United States, and is one of the top ten US ports by cargo volume. With its strategic location at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, Norfolk’s deep-water channels provide a vital link for the import and export of goods from across the US and around the world. We are certain that the OOCL Norfolk will live up to its name by providing a vital link to world trade.”

Panamax class ships are exceptionally versatile and they help OOCL to enhance customer services. They can be used in most trades including the Intra-Asia trade, the Australia/New Zealand trade and they can transit the Panama Canal.

“This year, 2009, we are celebrating 40 years of containerisation. During the past 40 years, OOCL has helped to drive the growth of the Asian economy, and in that time we have seen largest container ships grow in size from 300 TEUs to more than 8,000 TEUs. Our “we take it personally” spirit and dedication to our customers has helped us to grow from strength to strength,” said Mr Cambie.

Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL)