Edith Maersk - largest ship to sail up the Thames




On Sunday, 19th October 2014, the Edith Maersk, a 15,500 TEU E-Class Maersk Line container ship has become the largest ever vessel to sail up the River Thames, docking at the new port of DP World London Gateway to load around 1,000 empty containers due to be returned to the Far East.
The film includes an interview with London Gateway Harbourmaster Colin Hitchcock, and will be follow by a second report including an interview with the ship’s master, and coverage of London Gateway’s progress during its first year in business.



Thames Makes Room for Largest Ship Ever
The largest ship ever to enter the Thames arrived at DP World London Gateway on 19th October 2014 in the early hours of the morning.
The 397-metre-long, 56-metre-wide Edith Maersk has a draught of 16 metres and can carry up to 15,500 standard containers.
Edith Maersk was built by the Odense Steel Shipyard, Denmark and was handed over to the A.P. Moller – Maersk Group on Saturday 3 November 2007.


Edith Maersk and her sister ship Emma Maersk are one of the world’s largest cargo ships.
World Maritime News Staff; Image: Maersk

The biggest ship ever to navigate the Thames: Giant cargo vessel leaves British waters bound for Singapore... operated by a crew of just 13

  • The ship was built in Denmark and completed in late 2007; it can carry 13,500 20ft and 40ft containers
  • Edith Maersk serviced in number two berth at London Gateway by five of the port's cranes - the largest in the country
  • The vessel can achieve a top speed of 26 knots (30mph) and fully loaded weighs almost 200,000 tons
The biggest ship to sail up the Thames has left the London Gateway port in Essex and is sailing for its next destination Singapore via the Suez Canal at a steady speed of 23 knots.
The huge cargo ship docked at London Gateway before sunrise yesterday morning, guided in by three Port of London Authority tugs.
Edith Maersk was serviced in number two berth by five of the port's cranes - the largest in the country.
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Edith Maersk, the second largest container ship in the world, leaves the Thames Estuary near Canvey Island, Essex. The ship, the largest ever to enter the River Thames, had previously docked at London Gateway after arriving from the Far East
Edith Maersk, the second largest container ship in the world, leaves the Thames Estuary near Canvey Island, Essex. The ship, the largest ever to enter the River Thames, had previously docked at London Gateway after arriving from the Far East
Edith Maersk dwarfs London's biggest buildings, at almost 200ft longer than the Shard is tall. It is more than 400ft longer than the Titanic, and more than four times the length of the Cutty Sark
Edith Maersk dwarfs London's biggest buildings, at almost 200ft longer than the Shard is tall. It is more than 400ft longer than the Titanic, and more than four times the length of the Cutty Sark
Thanks to London Gateway, gargantuan E-class ships can  be accommodated at three ports in England - Felixstowe and Southampton being the others.
The vessel, the second largest container ship in the world, was launched in 2007 and can navigate the Thames following the opening of London Gateway port in the Thames Estuary.
The Gateway cost £1.5bn to build and was opened last year.  It is located on the former 1,500-acre Shell Haven site, which closed in 1999. 
Edith Mærsk is more than 50 per cent longer than Titanic and four times the length of a football pitch.
Spending just a day at Thames Gateway, Edith Maersk is bound for the Suez Canal en route to Singapore, a journey expected to take about a month
Spending just a day at Thames Gateway, Edith Maersk is bound for the Suez Canal en route to Singapore, a journey expected to take about a month

THE EDITH MAERSK IN FACTS AND FIGURES 

Tonnage: 172,960 tons (deadweight tonnage)/188, 268 (gross tons)            Length 430 yds/397m (1,302.49 ft) 
Beam: 56m (183.73 ft)                                                                                    Draught: 30m (98.43 ft) 
Draft: 17.5 m (57 ft)                                                                                        Speed: 26 knots (30mph) (maximum)/25.2 knots (29mph) (cruising)
Capacity:13,500 20ft containers                                                                     Crew: 13
Propulsion: Wärtsilä engine 80,000 kW 
Edith Maersk was escorted away from London Gateway in Essex by tugs from the Port of London Authority into the open sea
Edith Maersk was escorted away from London Gateway in Essex by tugs from the Port of London Authority into the open sea
Fully loaded, Edith Maersk weighs almost 200,000 tons and can carry 13,500 containers measuring 20ft and 40ft 
Fully loaded, Edith Maersk weighs almost 200,000 tons and can carry 13,500 containers measuring 20ft and 40ft 
Bon voyage: Edith Maersk sets sail tonight from London Gateway. It was the biggest ship to have navigated the waters of the Thames 
Bon voyage: Edith Maersk sets sail tonight from London Gateway. It was the biggest ship to have navigated the waters of the Thames 
The graphic demonstrates the sheer length of the Edith Maersk - it is even longer than the Shard, the highest building in the EU
The graphic demonstrates the sheer length of the Edith Maersk - it is even longer than the Shard, the highest building in the EU


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