Multipurpose shipping specialists Universal Africa Lines (UAL) and Bremen Overseas Chartering and Shipping (BOCS) have placed a joint order for a pair of newbuild vessels at New JiangZhou Shipbuilding Heavy Industry.
The 140 m-long, 12,000 dwt ships meet EEDI Phase 3 and IMO Tier III requirements for NOx emissions. They will be deployed on the established UBSL Mediterranean liner service and the newly launched UBSL Caribbean service that connects Europe and the Caribbean as well as the East Coast of South America and the US Gulf.
Delivery is planned for Q4 2026. “With this investment, we are setting a clear signal for development, efficiency and sustainability,” said Bjoern Hollnagel, managing director of BOCS. “The newbuildings will not only expand our capacities but also make a significant contribution to our strategy of offering modern and environmentally conscious logistics solutions.”
Harald Maas, managing director of UAL, added: “We are very excited to further strengthen the cooperation between BOCS and UAL by expanding the UBSL brand. Together we are setting sail for the future.”
HLPFI reported in October 2024 that the carriers were expanding their services to the Caribbean and the East Coast of South America. This follows years of operating a successful liner service between the Mediterranean and Black Sea to West Africa.
