Reviews & Ratings for the Wide-Alpha

NYK IS is set to welcome the first of ten newly constructed vessels, the Wide Alpha, into its fleet. Built at Hanjin's Subic Bay yard in the Philippines, this 5,370 TEU vessel is designated for the joint Asia-East Coast South America (ECSA) service alongside partners PIL, K Line, NYK, and HMM. The Wide Alpha was chartered by NYK in January 2023 for a term of eight to ten months, alongside its sister ship, the Wide Bravo, to enhance operations by replacing an older fleet of conventional over-panamax ships that carry 4,538 TEU. Owned by the US private equity firm Oaktree Capital, the Wide Alpha is managed by the reputable German shipping lines Rickmers Reederei and Schulte Group since their contract agreement in May 2013. The vessels are particularly equipped with 650 reefer plugs, accommodating up to 20 percent of their effective TEU capacity, which makes them ideal for reefer-intensive routes, especially within Australia/New Zealand and certain Latin American markets. Powered by a fully electronically-controlled slow-speed engine with a capacity of 28,260 kW, designed by MAN-B&W (model G80ME-C9 in a six-cylinder variant), these ships can achieve speeds of 21.5 knots. This advanced engine configuration allows for optimized fuel efficiency, with the latest model using four to five percent less fuel than conventional engines, thanks to its distinctive stroke-to-bore ratio and ultra-long stroke technology.