The Port of Hamburg is welcoming an increasingly large number of so-called 'mega ships', with the CSCL Mars the latest of these to visit the German port.
With a capacity of 14,074 TEU, the China Shipping Container Lines vessel becomes the latest mega vessel to call at Hamburg, with some 674 of these – including 21 containerships – calling between January-September alone this year.
The CSCL Mars was sailing on its maiden voyage as part of the joint Asia Europe Express Service 7 (AEX 7), run by China Shipping Container Lines and Evergreen shipping lines from Shanghai at the end of October.
As part of the service, the vessel continued on to the ports of Ningbo and Shekou and then on to Hong Kong, Yantian and Port Kelang, before passing through the Suez Canal, making two stops in Western Europe and berthing at the Eurogate Container Terminal at the Port of Hamburg on 7 December.
The apperance of such vessels means that the port needs to be prepared for calls by larger ships, with the European Commission backing plans to adjust the Elbe navigation channel.
'We are delighted that the European Commission has given the green light,' said Claudia Roller, Port of Hamburg Marketing's CEO. 'We are reckoning on the neighbouring states of Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony also reacting favourably and agreeing.
'The adjustment of the navigation chanel is indispensable for both the infrastructure and economy of North Germany,' Roller added. 'The Port of Hamburg powers jobs in the region, making it a leading employer.'
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