DP World London Gateway Port has welcomed one of the world’s largest container ships carrying a record 18,601 TEU (Twenty Foot Equivalent Units). The UASC owned Al Muraykh chose to call at DP World London Gateway to unload 3,800 containers.
The ship is one of the largest in the world measuring 400 metres in length. The containers are loaded 11 storeys high above deck and 23 containers across the ship. With thousands more stowed below deck, the ship can carry up to 18,800 containers. The ship left Malaysia’s Port Klang carrying the most ever shipping containers on board a vessel and arrived at DP World London Gateway Port as its first port of call in Europe.
Many of the goods being unloaded will be on the high streets of the UK in the coming days for the January sales. The vessel’s ability to transport large volumes of containers to the UK means the average CO2 output dropped 60% less than normal, making the transportation of goods more sustainable. DP World London Gateway Hub is located closer to key population centres reducing time and costs in UK supply chains.
Mr. Waleed Al Dawood, Chief Operating Officer at UASC commented, “We are extremely proud to have achieved a world record breaking load on board Al Muraykh, the greenest vessel in the world and one of the largest in operation today. Moreover, this voyage marks a very important milestone in our newbuilding and environmental sustainability program with this being the highest utilization of our 18,800TEU eco-efficient class to date.”
Mr. Al Dawood added, “The UK is a key market for us and our customers there, like all our customers globally, are increasingly looking for sustainable, green transport solutions. The technology on board Al Muraykh and her sister vessels allow us to provide these solutions and help our customers achieve their own environmental targets.”
Simon Moore, CEO, DP World London Gateway, said: “This is a great start to 2016 and we welcome UASC’s world record breaking ship to DP World London Gateway Port. The ship’s Master, Captain Spisak Andrezej and I, were able to wish each other Happy New Year whilst watching London Gateway’s port cranes unload four containers at a time using our quad-lift innovative technology. This ship demonstrates the port can take any vessel afloat and provide world class services to carriers. We are now focused on providing this world class service to cargo owners as cargo is collected. Trucks picking up containers are able to pick up faster and safer than ever before.
Mr Moore added, “As we enter 2016 in full swing, we look forward to opening berth three in the summer. The start of 2016 is seeing record volumes moving across the port, as customers and cargo owners benefit from the location of the UK’s 21st Century hub port, ensuring that supply chains are best protected and deliver the best environmental solutions.”
The video below includes an interview with the Captain Andrzej Spisak, who is the Master of Al Muraykh
