May 31 - The newly formed, Bremen based maritime shipping company, Hansa Heavy Lift GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the international investment enterprise Oaktree Capital Management, which commences its business operations tomorrow, has revealed its f

In an official statement, the company says it will start with a fleet of 17 ships with an average age of less than two years, with a further seven vessels under construction, and due for delivery before the beginning of 2012.

Roger Iliffe , CEO of Hansa Heavy Lift GmbH says: "Our ships are designed as high-performance, multi-purpose heavy lift freighters with adjustable tweendecks and crane capacities of up to 1,400 tonnes. The worldwide market prognosis for 'super heavy lift´ and 'heavy lift´ is quite promising, as seen on a medium-term basis.

In addition to its headquarters in Bremen, the company has a newly founded branch office in Singapore. In the coming weeks, these locations will be supplemented by a further branch office in Houston, with a global agency network also now in place.

The new company's current fleet list includes:

Five vessels of 19,100 GRT with a teu capacity of 1,100, launched in 2009 and 2010 

Six vessels of 20,000 GRT with a teu capacity of 974, launched in 2009, 2010 and 2011. 

Six vessels of 12,744 GRT with a teu capacity of 673, launched between 2007 and 2011 

Ships currently under construction include one vessel with a GRT of 19,100 and teu capacity of 1,011 due for delivery this year; four vessels of 20,000 GRT with a teu capacity of 974, due for delivery this year and in 2012; and two vessels of 12,744 GRT with a teu capacity of 673 to be delivered this year.