HMM unveiled as biggest shipping firm

As of the end of 2000, the shipping company owning the greatest tonnage among Korean overseas shipping firms was revealed to be Hyundai Merchant Marine.

According to the Korea Shipowner's Association, HMM holds a total of 52 vessels with 3.58 million GT and 4.40 million DWT as of the end of last year, confirming HMM as the biggest overseas shipping company in Korea. Hanjin Shipping operates a total of 46 vessels, amounting to 2.62 million GT and 3.65 million DWT. Pan Ocean shipping totaled 52 vessels with 1.49 million GT and 2.62 million DWT. Korea Line showed 14 vessels with 980 thousand GT and 1.61 million DWT. Choyang Line, one well known overseas shipping firm, possessed just 8 vessels with 136 thousand GT and 1.74 million DWT, due to restructuring and selling vessels.

Meanwhile, Korean overseas shipping companies have increased their total number of vessels to 432, up 8.5% from a year earlier. By gross tonnage, it reached 12 million tons, an increase of 8.7%. Broken down by ship type, general cargo vessels rose to 110 from 79 in 1999. LNG vessels doubled to 17 vessels from 8 in 1999, and full container vessels were steady at 102 vessels. Timber vessels, semi-container vessels, and car carriers decreased a bit from 1999.