The 21,413 TEU OOCL Hong Kong made its maiden call at Hutchison Ports’ Port of Felixstowe on June 21. The call also marked the return of Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) to the UK’s largest container port after a 17-year absence.
Commenting on the two events, Clemence Cheng, Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Felixstowe and Managing Director of Hutchison Ports Europe, said: “The OOCL Hong Kong is the latest in a line of mega vessels to call at the Port of Felixstowe. The port’s location close to the main shipping lanes and the ports of Northern Europe … makes it the first choice for the latest generation of giant container ships.”
“Our relationship with OOCL goes back 40 years and we are delighted to welcome them back to the Port of Felixstowe as part of the Ocean Alliance,” Cheng added.
The 210,890 gross ton vessel was built at Samsung Heavy Industries’ (SHI) shipyard in Geoje, South Korea and christened on May 12.
OOCL Hong Kong has taken the title of the largest ship in the world based on its advertised nominal container intake.
Measuring 400 meters in length and 58.8 meters in width, the boxship serves the Asia-Europe trade lane as part of OOCL’s LL1 service.