Three 200,000-metric-ton ultra-large container vessels create a 1.2-kilometer-long spectacle. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]
Xiamen Port achieved a milestone with the simultaneous docking and operation of three 200,000-metric-ton ultra-large container vessels for the first time on May 15.
All three are among the largest container vessels in the world, creating a stunning 1.2-kilometer-long spectacle.
Among them, the 400-meter-long SINGAPORE EXPRESS is the world's first container vessel to use high manganese steel tanks for liquefied natural gas dual-fuel propulsion. The other two – MSC FEBE and MSC HAMBURG – are both 400 meters in length.
In the Songyu Operation Area, which leads in global operational efficiency, 14 gantry cranes, 50 rail-mounted gantry cranes, and 76 container trucks were put into full operation, with the equipment's built-in lights illuminating the busy work sites.
To ensure efficient operations during the docking of giant vessels, various port regulatory departments have provided full support and collaborated closely, showcasing Xiamen Port's world-class international business environment.
After completing approximately 12,000-container loading and unloading operations at Xiamen Port, three giant vessels will sail to important ports in Belt and Road partner countries such as Singapore, the Suez Canal, and Abu Dhabi. This will help more "Made in China" products expand their reach.
Xiamen Port is one of the few natural deep-water ports in the world that can accommodate 200,000-ton ships for all-weather entry and exit, attracting super-large container vessels from around the world.
Since its opening in 2007, the Songyu Operation Area has berthed 200,000-ton container ships 749 times, highlighting the important position of Xiamen Port in the global shipping network.