Hundreds of shipspotters lined the shores at Felixstowe today to watch the world’s largest containership arrive on its maiden voyage.
It’s only call in Britain was at the nation’s biggest boxport, the Port of Felixstowe, and huge crowds were there to witness the mammoth vessel swing round Landguard Point and into Harwich Harbour.
Police reported traffic queues and congestion on the seafront.
The CSCL Globe wasn’t hard to miss – it’s the size of four football pitches – and it couild clearly be seen from the main seafront, cliffs, as well as Landguard and the John Bradfield Viewing Area, where it passed close by en route to dock at Berths 8&9.
Clemence Cheng, chief executive officer of the Port of Felixstowe, said: “We are delighted that China Shipping has chosen Felixstowe as CSCL Globe’s first port of call in Europe. Our relationship with China Shipping dates back to 1999 when their first vessel called at Felixstowe, and we are honoured that they continue to make Felixstowe their UK port of call.
“We are the major gateway for trade between the UK and China and the CSCL Globe is a magnificent testimony to the importance of the Europe-Asia trade.
“We are continuing to expand our facilities and increase the number container cranes to handle these very large ships.
“Together with the unrivalled skill and experience of our dedicated workforce, this enables us to turn even the biggest container ships around as quickly as possible, providing first class service to our customers.”
Zhang Zhendong, managing director of China Shipping (UK) Agency Co Ltd, said: “The CSCL Globe is the largest ship ever to be operated by China Shipping and the first of five similar-sized vessels we will be introducing into our Asia Europe Express service this year.
“The Port of Felixstowe has been our UK port of call since we first began the service 16 years ago. It has grown with us and continues to be the best location from which to serve the crucially important UK market.”
The CSCL Globe was built by Hyundai Heavy Industries’ shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. At 400 metres long, she is the length of four football pitches and weighs as much as 14,500 London buses and can carry 19,100 standard-sized boxes.
It will only hold the title of world’s biggest containership for a few weeks as the MSC Oscar, able to carry 19,224 boxes, will soon be afloat on the high seas.
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