• 2019 August 12 13:27

    The world's largest container vessel transits the Suez Canal for the first time​

    The world's largest container vessel "MSC GULSUN" of 23,756 TEUs transited the Suez Canal for the first time​. Admiral Mameesh boards the ship and announces the unparalleled success of the New Suez Canal in raising the efficiency of its marine services, and the waterway's readiness to accommodate the future generations of vessels of the world fleet, the Suez Canal Authorty reports.

    Admiral Mohab Mameesh, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority and Suez Canal Economic Zone, announced today the successful transit of MSC GULSUN, the world's largest container vessel, on its first trip through the New Suez Canal. The Panamanian ship transited the Canal with the northbound convoy, heading to North Western Europe from the Port of XINGANG.

    Adm. Mameesh boarded the vessel to welcome the crew and see that the vessel transits safely, as well as being offered all the navigational safety measures; including assigning experienced pilots for its pilotage, as well as the necessary escorting tugs. And as per protocol in the Suez Canal Authority on receiving mega vessels transiting for the first time, Admiral Mameesh, presented the ship's master with a bouquet of flowers and the Suez Canal Authority's shield, wishing him and the crew a safe trip, and a smooth transit through the Suez Canal.

    In his remarks, Admiral Mameesh emphasized that the Suez Canal will remain the lifeblood of world trade as the largest and most advanced waterway thanks to the extent to which transit management keeps abreast of the latest updates in the field of maritime transport, a rapidly growing industry which calls for a professional approach on our side. His Excellency also referred to the continuous developmental projects of the waterway as well as the non-stop efforts to better the marine services provided and raising the capabilities of the existing manpower as a response to the constantly evolving industry.

    Admiral Mameesh also stressed the fact that the New Suez Canal, the most recent developmental project of the waterway that was inaugurated 4 years ago, came at a time where it was an absolute necessity to help with boosting the Canal's efficiency and its ability to accommodate the current and future generations of the world fleet vessels, especially the large container vessels that are growing in importance every day. Those vessels are the center of attention of global shipyards to benefit from economies of scale.

    On his part, Capt. Somma Lauro, master of the ship, expressed his appreciation for the effort exerted by the Suez Canal Authority to ensure the safe and smooth transit of the vessel, particularly as this vessel is the largest and most advanced of its kind, and due to the fact that its transit requires special measures given its enormous dimensions. He also asserted the extent to which he values the role of the SCA pilots during the vessel's transit through the Canal, and their professionalism and competence. He, finally, applauded the role of the New Suez Canal in benefiting global shipping lines in terms of reducing waiting and transit time significantly.

    The mega vessel is one of MSC's largest vessels. It is the first of its kind at 23756 TEUs, and among 11 sister vessels the shipping line has had under construction at the SAMSUNG and DAEWOO South Korean shipyards since 2017. The vessels are set for operations between the Far East and North-Western Europe via the Suez Canal as part of the AE 10/SILK service in collaboration with MAERSK LINE.

    The ship stands at 400 m. in length and a beam of 61.4 m., which is a little under the 62.1 m. of the maximum permissible beam in the Suez Canal, a draught of 16 m., and a gross tonnageof 232,000 tons. This vessel is of the "Megamax 24" class with a total capacity of 23000 TEUs, and the ability to stack 24 rows of containers on board as opposed to the previous class "Megamax 23" with a capacity ranging from 18000 to 20000 TEUs, and only 23 rows of TEUs. All this led to an increase in the vessels beam from 59 meters in the older class to 61.4 in the new one.

    This vessel's transit through the Suez Canal indeed is a new achievement to be added to the SCA's track record, and furthermore is directly reflected on its revenues and on world trade.




2024 March 29

12:09 COSCO SHIPPING Ports throughput up by 4.4% YoY to 135,808,554 TEU in 2023
11:46 The "Ane Maersk" calls at the Eurogate container terminal in Hamburg for the first time on its maiden voyage from Asia to Europe
11:20 Sallaum Lines and Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding commence construction of Ocean Class vessels
10:43 Oasis Marine develops solutions for offshore hydrogen bunkering
10:03 Petrofac secures contract extension with ONEgas West in the UK market

2024 March 28

18:05 Jan De Nul, ENGIE and Equans launch a pilot project centred around the use of Vanadium Redox Flow batteries
17:35 Latvian port equipment manufacturer Bleste introduces new bulk handling ‘bucket’
17:05 Investors upgrade Navios Maritime Partners
16:25 DEME reports 22% increase in the orderbook and a record-high turnover of 3.3 billion euros in 2023
16:14 MABUX: Bunker Outlook, Week 13, 2024
15:41 AD Ports Group announced the opening of Saadiyat Marina & Ferry Terminal and Rabdan Marina
15:11 Sydney invests $11.5 million in two new operational vessels designed by Incat Crowther
14:55 China’s Jinzhao wins Peru $405m port construction contract
14:13 APM Terminals Moín handled six million TEU
13:48 ClassNK grants Innovation Endorsements for Products & Solutions to two innovative initiatives by MOL
13:37 Konecranes launches its flagship Konecranes X-series industrial crane
12:53 United European Car Carriers UECC spearheads collaboration with industry leaders to advance CNSL as a sustainable marine fuel
12:26 Ocean Network Express announces Transpacific service
11:48 Yang Ming announces 2025 Trans-Pacific service network
11:24 Fincantieri signs contract for the supply of two PPAs to Indonesia
10:42 Maersk transported more than 660,000 TEU using clean fuel in 2023
10:23 Documentation delays push industry costs to $3bn
09:48 PONANT and FARWIND Energy partner to develop green hydrogen refueling solutions

2024 March 27

18:22 Bureau Veritas awards world’s first prototype certification for SolarDuck’s floating offshore solar solution
17:58 The recently converted Allseas's shallow water pipelay barge starts preparations for its first commercial project
17:38 The Port of Rotterdam calls on the European Commission and Parliament to focus on actively promoting green energy
15:23 SEFE to become sole shareholder of WIGA
14:53 Ocean Installer secures yet another SLM contract with Equinor
14:23 Cadeler signs offshore wind turbine installation contract for the vessel Wind Scylla
13:42 Carnival Cruise Line orders 5th Excel-class cruise ship
13:11 Maersk and MSC overcharging cargo owners for EU ETS, says T&E
12:52 The Port Authority of Valencia launches the ZAL project in the Port of Valencia
12:11 Clarkson Port Services and Peak Group collaborate to deliver Port Agency services across the North Sea
11:42 Wan Hai Lines holds ship naming ceremony for new vessels
11:24 Consolidated shipping lines EBIT loss was $1.44 billion in Q4 2023: Sea-Intelligence
10:49 Seaspan Shipyards receives long-term contracts for the pre-construction work of the the Canadian Coast Guard's first six multi-mission vessels
10:14 Woodside completes sale of 10% scarborough interest

2024 March 26

18:02 COSCO Shipping Lines introduces new Americas service
17:30 Davie awarded first contract for design of icebreaker fleet under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy
17:04 Sanctions complicate Arctic LNG ship sales, Hanwha Ocean says - Bloomberg
16:57 Terntank places an order for 1+1 additional wind/ methanol-ready hybrid tanker
16:28 BW LNG completes acquisition of two TFDE vessels from Stena Bulk
15:50 Hanwha Ocean develops VR-based special vehicle simulator
15:20 TotalEnergies and SINOPEC join forces to produce sustainable jet fuel at a SINOPEC's refinery
14:52 Wärtsilä Lifecycle Agreement to guarantee operational reliability of new wind farm installation vessel
14:23 Hudong-Zhonghua launches two LNG carriers
13:51 Cargo ship hits Baltimore’s Key Bridge
13:12 Final sanctioned tanker with Russian Sokol oil to reach China port - Reuters
12:42 Adani Ports acquires 95% of Odisha's Gopalpur Port from SP Group for $162 million
12:21 IHI and Yara Clean Ammonia agree to jointly assess clean ammonia business collaboration
11:41 Yara Clean Ammonia and Azane granted safety permit to build world's first low emission ammonia bunkering terminal
11:16 Wartsila and Royal Caribbean Group celebrate 15 years of collaboration on digital transformation
10:46 A global carbon tax on shipping is coming, says ABS Chairman and CEO
10:21 Eni, Fincantieri and RINA establish partnership for maritime transport decarbonization

2024 March 25

18:07 The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore continues to investigate reports of oil spills off the port of Tuas
17:31 “K” Line, NIPPON HAKUYO and OPT Gate sign an agreement for a new fire detection system for car carriers
17:07 Greek merchant fleet recorded slight decline in January 2024
16:47 Hanwha Ocean Plans to develop green technology and naval ships
16:25 U-Ming Singapore and ITOCHU sign milestone MoU for the joint development of ammonia dual-fuel and de-carbonized vessels
15:34 Svitzer targets methanol-fuelled MAN 175DF-M engine for tug application
15:04 Wallenius Wilhelmsen signs contracts for four 9,300 CEU vessels with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard
14:40 Taiwan International Port to upgrade terminal facility at Kaohsiung
13:59 Сruise ship Carnival Freedom catches fire near Bahamas
12:59 Hanwha Ocean wins 2.4 tln-won order for 8 LNG ships
11:16 Inland Ports meet in Paris to talk about the innovation potential of inland ports
10:50 IMO agrees possible outline for maritime “net-zero framework”
10:24 Hapag-Lloyd to continue to avoid the Red Sea route
09:58 QatarEnergy enters time charter agreements with Nakilat for the operation of 25 LNG vessels

2024 March 24

16:18 Inchgreen Marine Park upgraded as part of £11m investment
15:14 A ribbon-cutting ceremony for Solent Rail Terminal Rail was held at the Port of Southampton