Despite the ongoing shipping crisis, Becker Marine Systems is on course for 2013. The Hamburg-based company was awarded the contract to equip five  18,000-TEU container ships under construction for China Shipping Container Lines with effective highperformance rudders. Other large orders are ensuring that Becker Marine Systems can confidently look ahead into a bright future.

With a transport capacity of 18,000 standard containers (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit or TEU), the container ships currently under construction for China Shipping Container Lines at the Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in South Korea will be among the largest cargo ships in the world. The shipyard designated Becker Marine Systems for delivery of the large, high-performance rudders required to operate these container giants.

“This Chinese shipping company sets great store in the quality of the rudders,” says Henning Kuhlmann, Managing Director of Becker Marine Systems, “relevant towing tank tests conducted in Asia turned out positively in favour of our rudders.” Due to customization, ships equipped with a Becker rudder are more fuel efficient and robust than those employing conventional rudder technology.

Furthermore, Becker Marine Systems was awarded an order for eleven Twisted Leading Edge King Support Rudders (TLKSR®). They are being provided for 10,000-TEU ships belonging to Seaspan Ship Management Ltd. based in Canada. “It’s entirely possible for us to be awarded subsequent orders, because this series is likely to be extended to a total of 20 to 25 ships,” says Kuhlmann.

Added to this is an order for four rudders for 9,400-TEU container ships belonging to Italy-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) as well as flap rudders for two Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) ships manufactured in China.

After Becker Marine Systems was able to sell its 500th Becker Mewis Duct® in August this year, being installed in a ship belonging to Lübeck, Germany-based OLDENDOEFF CARRIERS in China next year, yet more orders for this highly efficient energy-saving nozzle have been placed:

• 1 Becker Mewis Duct® for a 81,000-DWT (dead weight tonne) bulk carrier belonging to India-based Great Eastern Shipping Company

• 4 Becker Mewis Ducts® for 93,000-DWT bulk carriers owned by D‘Amato,

an Italian shipping company

• 2 Becker Mewis Ducts® for 37,500-DWT “Seahorse” bulk carriers owned by the

Nordic Hamburg Group shipping company

• 2 Becker Mewis Ducts® for 57,000-DWT bulk carriers of EF Shipping based in Greece Kuhlmann is satisfied with these new orders and the development of business for the year overall:

“Despite the difficult market environment with extreme price pressure for both shipyards and ship suppliers, we have already more than fulfilled our order planning for 2013,” says the Becker Marine Systems Managing Director. The Hamburg-based company is thus looking to the coming year with confidence.