While on her maiden voyage in the AEX1 service, the container vessel China Shipping Container Lines Globe, currently the world’s – or the “globe’s”- largest container vessel, moored at the port of Zeebrugge.

The ship embarked on its first voyage in China last December. The CSCL Globe measures 400 meters in length and is approximately 59 meters wide. Its stunning maximum capacity is 19.100 twenty feet equivalent units. Lining the containers up in a row would result in a container chain of 115 kilometers. The Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in South Korea will be delivering four sister vessels in the course of the year.

The continuously growing dimensions in shipping allow freight to be transported more economically. The CSCL Globe’s engine automatically adjusts fuel consumption based on the ship’s speed and sea conditions, which means that the ship should use a fifth less fuel per container than the vessels in the 10.000 TEU category.

The scaling up in the shipping industry causes ports and port terminals to adapt their water depth and their manoeuvering capacity, as well as an adjusted port infrastructure. The port of Zeebrugge has seen many evolutions over the last couple of years.

The building of this ultra-large container ship is very authoritative in the maritime world.

The port has invested in the maritime accessibility and adapted the container quay infrastructure for the new dimensions of the vessels. “At the Albert II dock in the outer port of Zeebrugge, the world-class container facility of APMT Zeebrugge serves the needs of the highly demanding container sector.”, says Joachim Coens, CEO of Port of Zeebrugge.

Mrs. Carla Debart, MD of APM Terminals ZeebruggeNV confirms that the terminal is ready for this mega size vessels. “Nautically, we do have the access and necessary depth; technically, the equipment is ready but even more important, the whole APMT-team is waiting to confirm – also for these ultra large vessels – the high productivity, flexibility and customer service for which our terminal has been well known already for many years.”

Joachim Coens, CEO Port of Zeebrugge:“We are dedicated to the company China Shipping Terminal development, and the shipping line China Shipping Container Lines. The call of the CSCL Globe in Zeebrugge, in addition to the acquired share in the container terminal of Zeebrugge is a clear sign that we are together determined to develop the company’s hub strategy.”

Yu Zenggang Vice-President China Shipping Container Lines: “With the geographic advantage of being a deepwater port on the North Sea coast and an ideal berthing port on Sino-Europe routes, Port of Zeebrugge has served as an important hub linking the whole Europe continent since ancient days. This maiden voyage in Zeebrugge will be an opportunity for China Shipping to continue our good relationship with European friends. With the biggest seaborne trade platform in the world, we will continue providing high-quality and convenient logistic service to the international trade shippers in Europe.”

China Shipping (Group) Company

China Shipping (Group) Company (abbr. China Shipping) was established on July 1st, 1997. Mainly engaged in shipping business, China Shipping is a mega comprehensive, transnational, multi-industry, trans-regional, trans-ownership enterprise group with its headquarter in Shanghai.

Surrounding the main shipping business, China Shipping has developed into various fields including shipping finance, logistics, global terminal investment and management, ship building and repairing and science and technology & information and formed a multi-industry setup.

China Shipping Container Line Co., Ltd

China Shipping Container Lines Co., Ltd (abbr. CSCL), affiliated to China Shipping Group, is a global container liner service provider involved in a diversified business. CSCL’s business spectrum spreads from container shipping to vessel chartering, cargo conversing and booking, custom clearance, warehousing, container depot, manufacturing, trading and repairing of containers and ship management.

China Shipping Agency (Belgium) NV

China Shipping Agency (Belgium) NV (CSAB) is the Belgian Representative & Agent for China Shipping Container Lines Co. Ltd. (“CSCL”), part of the China Shipping Group CO, both companies having their headquarters in Shanghai.