Calling all Cellular Containership fans

[Caravellarella]

Dear Boys & Girls, for those of you who would like to do something with your horrible old 1/550 scale Imex M.V. Toyama kits, here are some pictures of her slightly older "sistership" Mitsui-O.S.K Line's M.V. Elbe Maru......

M.V. ELBE MARU was one of the third-generation fast cellular container ships that appeared in the early 1970s. She was the world�s first triple-screw motor containership, she achieved 31.78 knots on trial and she was part of Mitsui-O.S.K�s contribution to the Trio service via the Panama Canal.

Builder � Mitsui, Tamano. Yard N�. 903.
IMO 7121243
Launched 22nd September 1971.
Service (Mitsui-O.S.K. Line) 24th March 1972 to 1989.

Length 269 metres, breadth 32.3 metres. 51,623Grt.

The Mitsui-O.S.K livery is very attractive, and must have been quite striking for its time. The hull is teal or a deep turquoise, the upperworks are cream or off-white, the funnel is vermilion or deep-orange and the boot-topping is a bottle green strip at the waterline and red below. The ships name is painted in gold and white.

The Wilhelm Wilhelmsen Line M.V. TOYAMA built for the Scan-Dutch service was based on the Elbe Maru plans, but with a different superstructure for "European-style" crew accomodation. I haven't been able to source any plans to show the differences between the two ships, but I'm sure conversion must be quite feasible. Anyone care to try?

Terry (Caravellarella)

[Pieter]

Count me in. Waiting for the new Revel-Germany kit to appear.

[Caravellarella]

Dear Pieter, here are some images of Nippon Yusen Kaisha's original trio of high-speed container ships which were also built for the Trio Service......

S.S. Kamakura Maru......

S.S. Kamakura Maru

Builder � Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kobe. Yard N�. 1023.
IMO 7104673
Launched 31st March 1971.
Service 1971 to 1988 (N.Y.K.).

Length 261.2 metres, breadth 32.3 metres. 51,139Grt.

S.S. Kitano Maru......

S.S. Kitano Maru

Builder � Nippon Kokan, Tsurumi. Yard N�. 887.
IMO 7125392
Launched November 1971.
Service 1972 to 1988 (N.Y.K.).

Length 261.2 metres, breadth 32.3 metres. 50,159Grt.

S.S. Kurama Maru......

S.S. Kurama Maru

Builder � Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kobe. Yard N�. 1024.
IMO 7120512
Launched 31st March 1971.
Service 1971 to 1988 (N.Y.K.).

Length 261.2 metres, breadth 32.3 metres. 51,139Grt.


Mitsui-O.S.K. Line also had one of this class; S.S. Rhine Maru. I believe all four were converted to slower speed motorships after the 1973 fuel crisis.

S.S. Kamakura Maru was the largest and fastest cellular container ship when built; she reached 30.13 knots on trials......

Terry (Caravellarella)

[Neptune]

Of course I'm also interested! See those guys a lot, yet they still amaze me. I still have a plan for one of the first classes of fully cellular container ships, I even intended to start building it. Yet lack of good reference pictures of details has kept me from building it.

[Caravellarella]

Dear Boys & Girls, for those of you who would like to do something else with your horrible old 1/550 scale Imex M.V. Toyama kits, here are some pictures of her later in her career as Maersk Nanhai......

M.V. Maersk Nanhai 1......

M.V. Maersk Nanhai 2......

M.V. Maersk Nanhai 3......

I think this will only involve a change of livery......

Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

Here is one of my favourite third-generation containership designs. I particularly like the fact that the twin diesel engines required to power this trio (at their 1970's & pre-oil crisis design speed) were so large that they protruded above the height of the hull. Note the shallow superstructure behind the main superstructure; this covers the top of the diesel engines. I also like the way the flare and knuckle of the bow and stern is integrated into the hull. All three motorships were built for Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha's (K-Line) and Orient Overseas Container Line's (OOCL) then new joint container service to Western Europe ports......

M.V. Verrazano Bridge (i), � Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha.

M.V. VERRAZANO BRIDGE; a third generation high speed cellular containership with 1,900TEU built for Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, sisterships SEVEN SEAS BRIDGE and Orient Overseas Container Line�s HONG KONG CONTAINER.

Builder � Kawasaki Dockyard Co Ltd, Kobe. Yard N�. 1,185.
IMO 7310143
Laid down - 12th August 1972.
Launched - 2nd February 1973.
Service (K-Line) 26th July 1973 to 1989.

Length 264.5 metres, breadth 32.3 metres. 35,582Grt.

M.V. Hong Kong Container (iii), Karsten Petersen.

M.V. HONGKONG CONTAINER; a third generation high speed cellular containership with 1,900TEU built for Orient Overseas Container Line, sisterships Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha�s VERRAZANO BRIDGE and SEVEN SEAS BRIDGE.

Builder � Kawasaki Dockyard Co Ltd, Kobe. Yard N�. 1,186.
IMO 7334450
Laid down � unknown.
Launched - 12th October 1973.
Service (OOCL) 1974 to 1989.

Length 264.5 metres, breadth 32.3 metres. 35,768Grt.

M.V. Seven Seas Bridge (iii), � unknown.

M.V. SEVEN SEAS BRIDGE; a third generation high speed cellular containership with 1,900TEU built for Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, sisterships VERRAZANO BRIDGE and Orient Overseas Container Line�s HONG KONG CONTAINER.

Builder � Kawasaki Dockyard Co Ltd, Kobe. Yard N�. 1,231.
IMO 7373418
Laid down � unknown.
Launched - 24th January 1975.
Service (K-Line) 1975 to 1993.

Length 264.5 metres, breadth 32.3 metres. 35,331Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

Here is Nippon Yusen Kaisha's M.V. Kurobe Maru; one of a pair of third generation motorships built for the Japan-Panama Canal-New York container service......

M.V. Kurobe Maru......

M.V. Kurobe Maru (i), � Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

M.V. Kurobe Maru (ii), � unknown.

M.V. KUROBE MARU; a third generation cellular container motorship with 1,826TEU built for Nippon Yusen Kaisha�s New York route. Sistership; Kiso Maru.

Builder � Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kobe. Yard N�. 1,032.
IMO 7224291
Laid down � unknown.
Launched - 12th June 1972.
Service (NYK) 1972 to 1987.

Length 260.45 metres, breadth 32.3 metres. 37,846Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

My all-time favourite cellular containership; Messageries Maritimes' fabulous S.S. Korrigan; favourite because......

1. She is a French Ship.
2. She is a Messageries Maritimes ship.
3. She is a typical early third generation cellular containership.
4. She has a very unusual name. "Korrigan" is the Breton/Norman equivalent of a Leprechaun or Fairy.

S.S. Korrigan (ii), � Karsten Petersen

S.S. Korrigan (iv), � unknown.

M.V. Korrigan (viii), � unknown. In CGM livery & post 1981 as a motorship.

S.S. KORRIGAN; the first French third generation cellular containership with capacity for up to 2,804 TEU built for Messageries Maritimes. She passed into C.G.M � Compagnie G�n�rale Maritime ownership on 1st January 1977 and was converted into a motorship from 7th January 1981 at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries� Yokohama yard. Sisterships - Benavon, Benalder & City of Edinburgh built for Ben Line.

Builder � Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH, Kiel. Yard N�. 45.
IMO 7231098
Laid Down � unknown.
Launched - 28th October 1972.
Service (Messageries Maritimes then C.G.M) 23rd April 1973 to 1998. Broken up at Chittagong from 5th April 1998.

Length 288.6 metres, breadth 32.29 metres. 57,249Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

More of my favourite; S.S. Korrigan......

The Korrigan was ordered by Messageries Maritimes as their French contribution to the TRIO Container Service consortium. TRIO also consisted of Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Overseas Containers Ltd (Ocean Transport & Trading Ltd - Blue Funnel Line, P & O, British & Commonwealth Shipping Co. Ltd and Furness Withy & Co. Ltd), Hapag-Lloyd, Ben Line Containers Ltd and Mitsui-OSK Line. TRIO was set up to provide to provide service from European ports to Kobe, Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong via both Suez (or Cape Town) and Panama using 17 of the new high-speed third generation cellular container ships.

S.S. Korrigan (i), � unknown.

By the time the Korrigan had been delivered to Messageries Maritimes in April 1973, Messageries Maritime's participation in TRIO had been cancelled. She was laid up at Brest until 17th July 1973 when she joined the rival ScanDutch Partnership which provided around-the world service eastwards via Japan. ScanDutch consisted of Ostasiatiske Kompagni (Danish), Koninklijke Nedlloyd nv (Dutch), Messageries Maritimes (France), Svenska Ostasiatiska Kompaniet (Sweden) and Wilhelm Wilhelmsen (Norway).

S.S. Korrigan (iii), � unknown.

The Korrigan provided part of ScanDutch's 7 ship service. Her 27 knot service speed proved to be uneconomic after the mid-1970s fuel crisis and like most of her contemporaries she became a 22 knot motorship after 1981. She had passed into CGM - Compagnie G�n�rale Maritime ownership in 1977 after the merger of Messageries Maritimes and C.G.T - Compagnie G�n�rale TransAtlantique (French Line). She was remaned C.G.M Korrigan in 1992 and then Nedlloyd Korrigan in 1995.

S.S. Korrigan (vii), � unknown.

S.S. KORRIGAN; the first French third generation cellular containership with capacity for up to 2,804 TEU built for Messageries Maritimes. She passed into C.G.M � Compagnie G�n�rale Maritime ownership on 1st January 1977 and was converted into a motorship from 7th January 1981 at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries� Yokohama yard. Sisterships - Benavon, Benalder & City of Edinburgh built for Ben Line. LR/IMO/Miramar � 7231098.

Builder � Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH, Kiel. Yard No 45.
IMO 7231098
Laid Down � unknown.
Launched 28th October 1972.
Service (Messageries Maritimes then C.G.M) 23rd April 1973 to 1998. Broken up at Chittagong from 5th April 1998.

Length 288.6 metres, breadth 32.29 metres. 57,249Grt.


This is one containership that I'd like to make a model of......

Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

Here are some of Mitsui-OSK's earlier, second generation containerships. They are typical of the first purpose-built containerships and were soon made obsolete by the larger, faster third generation containerships of the mid 1970s......

M.V. America Maru (ix), � Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

M.V. AMERICA MARU; a second generation 716TEU cellular container ship and the first built for Mitsui-OSK. She launched the new Japan to California container service in Autumn 1968 in pool with Yamashita-Shinnihon Kaisha�s (Y.S. Line) KASHU MARU and Japan Line Ltd�s JAPAN ACE. She was renamed ORIENT MARU and transferred to the round-the-world service on 19th December 1981.

Builder � Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kobe. Yard N�. 988.
IMO 6823246
Laid down � 22nd February 1968.
Launched � 13th July 1968.
Service (Mitsui-OSK) 19th October 1968 to April 1986.

Length 187 metres, breadth 25.1 metres. 14,475Grt.

M.V. Asia Maru (i), � Mitsui-OSK.

M.V. ASIA MARU; a second generation 1,164TEU cellular container ship built for Mitsui-OSK�s Japan to California route.

Builder � Hitachi Zosen K.K, Innoshima. Yard N�. 4,318.
IMO 7116092
Laid down - 6th April 1971.
Launched - 22nd July 1971.
Service (Mitsui-OSK) 17th November 1971 to August 1986.

Length 212 metres, breadth 30.1 metres. 24,478Grt.

M.V. Australia Maru (i), � Mitsui-OSK.

M.V. AUSTRALIA MARU; a second generation 1,184TEU cellular container ship built for Mitsui-OSK�s Japan to Australia route.

Builder � Mitsui Zosen K.K, Tamano. Yard N�. 849.
IMO 6926517
Laid down � 7th June 1969.
Launched � 31st July 1969.
Service (Mitsui-OSK) 18th December 1969 to June 1987.

Length 213 metres, breadth 29 metres. 23,312Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

Here are some other early second generation cellular containerships; Nippon Yusen Kaisha & Showa Kaiun Kaisha's Hakone Maru class of 1968......

M.V Hakone Maru (i), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

M.V. HAKONE MARU; a second generation cellular containership with 752TEU jointly owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha and Showa Kaiun Kaisha. She was the very first Japanese containership and opened the new Japan-California route arriving at Oakland on 23rd September 1968. Hakone Maru wore Nippon Yusen Kaisha colurs on her funnel; her sistership HARUNA MARU wore Showa Kaiun Kaisha colours.

Builder � Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kobe. Yard N�. 882.
IMO 6817194
Laid down - 9th February 1968.
Launched - 17th May 1968.
Service (NYK-Showa Line) 27th August 1968 to 1978.

Length 187 metres, breadth 26 metres. 16,240Grt.

M.V Haruna Maru (i), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

M.V. HARUNA MARU; a second generation cellular containership with 752TEU jointly owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha and Showa Kaiun Kaisha. Sistership HAKONE MARU (Nippon Yusen Kaisha colours), they were first ever Japanese containership design.

Builder � Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kobe. Yard N�. 983.
IMO 6820141
Laid down - 21st February 1968.
Launched - 14th June 1968.
Service (NYK-Showa Line) 19th September 1968 to 1984.

Length 187 metres, breadth 26 metres. 16,214Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

Some postcard images of another early second generation Nippon Yusen Kaisha containership......

M.V. Hakozaki Maru (i), � Nippon Yusen Kaisha.

M.V. Hakozaki Maru (ii), � Nippon Yusen Kaisha.

M.V. HAKOZAKI MARU; a second generation cellular containership with 1,178TEU built for Nippon Yusen Kaisha�s Japan-California route, sistership HIEI MARU owned by Showa Kaiun Kaisha.

Builder � Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kobe. Yard N�. 1,014.
IMO 6921969
Laid down - unknown
Launched � 17th June 1969.
Service (NYK) 25th September 1969 to 1981.

Length 212.5 metres, breadth 30 metres. 23,669Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

Some more containerships jointly owned & operated by Nippon Yusen Kaisha and Showa Kaiun Kaisha......

M.V. Hotaka Maru (i), � unknown. In Showa Kaiun Kaisha livery.

M.V. HOTAKA MARU; a one-off second generation cellular containership with 977TEU jointly owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha and Showa Kaiun Kaisha. She was built for the Kobe, Nagoya and Yokohama to Pacific Northwest port service.

Builder � Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kobe. Yard N�. 1,019.
IMO 7020566
Laid down - 1st April 1970.
Launched - 26th May 1970.
Service (NYK-Showa Line) 25th September 1970 to 14th July 1986.

Length 196 metres, breadth 27.6 metres. 21,057Grt.

M.V. Hikawa Maru (vii), � unknown. In Nippon Yusen Kaisha livery.

M.V. HIKAWA MARU; a one-off third generation cellular containership with 1,277TEU jointly owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha and Showa Kaiun Kaisha. She was built for the Kobe, Nagoya and Yokohama to Pacific Northwest port service.

Builder � Nippon Kokan, Tsurumi. Yard N�. 911.
IMO 7380590
Laid down � 11th October 1973.
Launched - 23rd January 1974.
Service (NYK-Showa Line) 27th May 1974 to September 1987.

Length 213.5 metres, breadth 31.1 metres. 24,770Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

Some other early second generation containerships, this time operated by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K-Line)......

M.V. Golden Gate Bridge (i), � Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha.

M.V. Golden Gate Bridge (ii), � Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha.

M.V. GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE; a one-off second generation cellular containership with 792TEU built for Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha�s Japan-California route, their first containership.

Builder � Kawasaki Dockyard Co Ltd (Kawasaki Heavy Industries), Kobe. Yard N�. 1,106.
IMO 6829238
Laid down - 5th May 1968.
Launched - 9th August 1968.
Service (K-Line) 26th October 1968 to 17th December 1984.

Length 188.9 metres, breadth 25.1 metres. 16,911Grt.

M.V. Silver Arrow (i), � Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

M.V. SILVER ARROW; a one-off second-generation cellular container ship 1,411TEU, built for Japan Line Ltd and operated in cooperation with Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K-Line) as M.V. QUEEN�S WAY BRIDGE from 25th May 1973 onwards.

Builder � Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kobe. Yard N�. 1,166.
IMO 7121669
Laid down - 3rd April 1971
Launched - 21st October 1971.
Service 28th January 1972 to 1991.

Length 225.5 metres, breadth 30.6 metres. 30,135Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

Some early Yamashita-Shinnihon Kisen Kaisha (Y.S. Line)-operated containerships......

M.V Kashu Maru (i), � Hitachi Zosen.

M.V. KASHU MARU; a second generation cellular container ship with 800 TEU built as the Yamashita-Shinnihon Kisen Kaisha (Y.S. Line) contribution to the Japan to California route. She was later sold to Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha and Showa Line Ltd in 1981, then lengthened to 210.2 metres with 20,225Grt for 1,162TEU and jointly operated as SHOKAWA MARU.

Builder � Hitachi Zosen K.K, Innoshima. Yard N�. 4,204.
IMO 6823404
Laid down - 5th March 1968.
Launched - 7th July 1968.
Service (Y.S. Line then Kawasaki Kisen/Showa Line) 30th October 1968 to 1985.

Length 188 metres, breadth 25.8 metres. 16,004Grt.

M.V Tohgo Maru (i), � Hitachi Zosen.

M.V. TOHGO MARU; a second generation cellular container ship with 1,262TEU built for the Japan to Australia route and later used on the Japan-Middle East ports route. Tohgo Maru was jointly owned and operated by Yamashita�Shinnihon Kisen Kaisha (Y.S. Line), Nippon Yusen Kaisha and Mitsui�O.S.K Line. She had a Yamashita�Shinnihon Kisen Kaisha and Mitsui�O.S.K Line-owned sistership Yamashin Maru which operated on the Japan-California route.

Builder � Hitachi Zosen K.K, Innoshima. Yard N�. 4,266.
IMO 7010157
Laid down 28th July 1969.
Launched 10th January 1970.
Service 14th May 1970 to 26th January 1986.

Length 212 metres, breadth 30.1 metres. 23,299Grt.


Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

Dear Boys & Girls, for those of you who would like to do something with your horrible old 1/550 scale Imex M.V. Toyama kits, here are some pictures of her slightly older "sistership" Mitsui-O.S.K Line's M.V. Elbe Maru at the end of her career as Mediterranean Shipping Company's M.V. MSC Insa, typically overloaded with additional 40' containers......

M.V. MSC Insa (i), � unknown.

M.V. MSC Insa (iii), � unknown.

M.V. MSC Insa (iv), � unknown.

She was beached for scrapping at Alang in September 2008, ending a long and successful 36 year career

Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

The M.V. Toyama herself, for those of you planning to build the Imex 1/550 scale kit......

M.V. Toyama (i), � Wilhelm Wilhelmsen.

M.V. TOYAMA; a one-off third-generation cellular container ship with 2,208 TEU built for Wilhelm Wilhelmsen as their Norwegian contribution to the ScanDutch consortium. She was a triple-screw motorship and made 30.59 knots on trial. She was lengthened in 1984 by Hyundai's Mipo Dockyard to take 2,666 TEU. After the ScanDutch consortium ceased operations, she was sold to Maersk Line to become MAERSK NANHAI. She was scrapped from 21st October 2001.

Builder � Mitsui Zosen K.K, Tamano. Yard N�. 900.
IMO 7218412
Laid down � unknown.
Launched - 2nd June 1972.
Service (Wilhelm Wilhelmsen) 27th November 1972 to 1993.

Length 275.09 metres, breadth 32.2 metres. 52,196Grt.
1984 � Length 289.5metres. 57,123Grt.


Here is a link to a Norwegian (I think) website on model ships. There are images (No.s 27 & 28) of the Builder's model of The Toyama on page 3
http://visekar.diskusjonsforum.no/visek ... -2276.html

Terry (Caravellarella)

[Caravellarella]

Dear Boys & Girls, some more pictures of one of my favourites; Mitsui-O.S.K Line's M.V. Elbe Maru......

M.V. Elbe Maru (iii), � unknown.

as M.V. Maersk Tacoma between 1993 and 1996......

M.V. Maersk Tacoma, � unknown.

Terry (Caravellarella)

[Cadman]

Question; why don't these ships carry containers below deck?

[reigels]

Question; why don't these ships carry containers below deck?

They do. Containers are loaded in the hold under the deck hatches and additional containers are loaded on top. I believe all the refrigerated units are above deck to allow for ventilation, although all the topside containers are not reefers.

Some nice pics here: http://www.menkent.dk/picsvend.html