The arrival of the CMA CGM Vela on Tuesday set a new terminal record for the largest declared containership to call at DP World Southampton.
The 11,040 TEU capacity boxship, with a gross tonnage of 129,000 tons and a length of 347m, carries 14% more capacity than the terminal’s previous record holder, the CMA CGM Orfeo, which called at the terminal in August of this year.
DP World Southampton is the UK's second largest container terminal, handling some 1.9m TEU last year, a 26% increase on the 2006 figure.
Talking about the new record, DP World Southampton managing director Campbell Mason said, 'We are delighted to welcome yet another record breaker to the terminal. The fact that we were celebrating a record size vessel only a few months ago highlights the increasing trend within the industry toward ever larger, cost effective ships. With the terminal’s first two super post-panamax cranes now in full operation and an additional two super post-panamax cranes scheduled to arrive next summer, we are well positioned to meet that industry trend.'
During the vessel’s visit the traditional plaque exchange ceremony took place between Captain Cubasch (vessel’s Master), Campbell Mason, Neil Fletcher (DP World Southampton’s customer service & planning manager), and Tom McNamara (CMA CGM’s UK port operations manager).
The 11,040 TEU capacity boxship, with a gross tonnage of 129,000 tons and a length of 347m, carries 14% more capacity than the terminal’s previous record holder, the CMA CGM Orfeo, which called at the terminal in August of this year.
DP World Southampton is the UK's second largest container terminal, handling some 1.9m TEU last year, a 26% increase on the 2006 figure.
Talking about the new record, DP World Southampton managing director Campbell Mason said, 'We are delighted to welcome yet another record breaker to the terminal. The fact that we were celebrating a record size vessel only a few months ago highlights the increasing trend within the industry toward ever larger, cost effective ships. With the terminal’s first two super post-panamax cranes now in full operation and an additional two super post-panamax cranes scheduled to arrive next summer, we are well positioned to meet that industry trend.'
During the vessel’s visit the traditional plaque exchange ceremony took place between Captain Cubasch (vessel’s Master), Campbell Mason, Neil Fletcher (DP World Southampton’s customer service & planning manager), and Tom McNamara (CMA CGM’s UK port operations manager).