AS THE huge blue-andwhite slabsided hull of the Hoegh Detroit sailed into Durban two weeks ago – it marked the start of a regular service by Hoegh Autoliners, using the car-carrying line’s lengthened vessels. “Höegh Autoliners has placed contracts for “jumbo-ising” 12 of its core fleet of pure car-truck carriers,” Fernanda de Sousa, senior commercial manager at the line’s Johannesburg office, told FTW. “This will add deck space for 15 000 cars – equal to the capacity of three large vessels.” Two of the lengthened vessels are newbuilds. But, in a rather spectacular operation, 10 existing car carriers will be cut in two amidships. The two sections will be floated apart, and a new 28-metre-long section – with 12 car decks - will be inserted. “The whole operation will take less than two months per ship to complete,” De Sousa added.
