The vessel is sixth in a series of nine newbuildings constructed by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. under contract to H'egh Autoliners. Of the remaining vessels in the series, two will be delivered in 2007 and one in 2008.
In traditional naming, the m/v H'egh Detroit was sponsored at the Wilmington Marine Terminal, Wilmington, DE, by Mrs. Maud Andersson, wife of Mr. Bo Andersson, vice president, Global Purchasing & Supply Chain, General Motors Corporation. Before Mrs. Andersson cut the rope that broke the traditional champagne bottle across the bow of the m/v H'egh Detroit, the national anthems of the United States, Republic of Korea and Norway were played.
Dignitaries attending the ceremony included: Leif O. H'egh, chairman, H'egh Autoliners AS; Thor Jorgen Guttormsen, chief executive officer, H'egh Autoliners AS; James E. Butcher, president, H'egh Autoliners, Inc.; and, Captain Rommel H. Bonifacio, master of the m/v H'egh Detroit. More than 100 people were in attendance.
After the ceremony, guests were served lunch hosted by H'egh Autoliners. Mrs. Andersson addressed the guests and received gifts from the ship builder and the steamship line.
Commenting on the eventful day, Leif H'egh, said, 'This continues to be a very exciting time for H'egh Autoliners. We celebrate the continued arrival of new vessels, and our improved ability to serve our customers more broadly as their global needs grow. It is particularly special to have our newest vessel named after a city that is synonymous with the automobile industry and the home of our core customer 'General Motors.'
The m/v H'egh Detroit departs the Port of Wilmington after the naming ceremony for Baltimore and Jacksonville, FL, then, ports in H'egh Autoliners' Mediterranean and Middle East Service.
The m/v H'egh Detroit, a 200 meter long, latest generation Pure Car Truck Carrier (PCTC) ocean-going vessel, has a fully-loaded capacity of 6,519 cars, secured on 12 decks. Laid end-to-end, its cargo would stretch nearly 20 miles. Vehicles enter through the vessel's side and stern mounted ramps which can accommodate a variety of wheeled cargo to be driven aboard.
H'egh Autoliners, Oslo, Norway, the ro/ro car-carrying unit of Leif H'egh & Co., is one of the world's leading operators of car carriers, with a fleet of 50 roll-on/roll-off (ro/ro) vessels in its commercial operation. H'egh Autoliners operates in a network of trade systems from the main export areas for new cars in the US, Far East and Europe.
The company is in the midst of an extensive fleet renewal and expansion program to meet customers' demands for flexible PCTC vessels capable of carrying High-and-Heavy cargo, as well as factory-new and previously owned cars. The fact that H'egh Autoliners will introduce 20 new vessels with a combined value of more than $1.3 billion between 2003 and 2008 illustrates the strength of the company's commitment.
