The CSCL Globe arrived into Felixstowe after leaving China about a month ago
The world's largest container ship has arrived in the UK for the first time.
The Hong Kong-registered CSCL Globe, measuring more than 400m (1,313ft) in length, docked at Felixstowe loaded with about 19,000 standard containers.
The previous largest ship to have docked at the port was the Maersk Triple-E, which arrived in November, carrying about 18,000 containers.
The new ship, which left China in December, arrived at the Suffolk port sometime after 12:30 GMT.
The CSCL Globe could be seen for some miles off the Suffolk coast as she approached Felixstowe
"I would probably mortgage my house if they would have me on board," said one spectator
Hundreds of spectators arrived along the coast to watch the ship dock at Felixstowe's deep-water berths eight and nine, which were opened in 2011, at a cost of £300m.
Brian Hall, a shipping enthusiast watching the ship come in, told BBC Radio Suffolk: "It's an awesome sight. It is a great coup for the port to get the biggest container ship I the world into port. It is very prestigious."
The CSCL Globe made its maiden voyage from the Port of Qingdao, China in December
The previous largest ship to arrive at Felixstowe was the Maersk Triple-E with 18,000 containers in November
Work on the deep water berths at Felixstowe pictured in 2010
Berths eight and nine were opened in November 2011
The port said ships of this size would not be able to use Felixstowe if it had not made this investment.
It is carrying a large range of consumer goods including food, drink, clothing, electrical goods and furniture.
The ship's last port of call was at Kelang in Malaysia.
- 400m length
- 184,000 tonnes weight (equivalent of 14,500 London buses)
- The 19,000 containers would stretch 72 miles if laid end-to-end
- It could carry 900 million tins of beans or 300 million tablet computers
- Built by China Shipping Container Lines Co Ltd and South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries
- Made its maiden voyage from the Port of Qingdao, China on 4 December 2014
Source: Port of Felixstowe
Credit for the above pictures to Antony Perkins
Credit for the above pictures to Antony Perkins
Richard CornwellWednesday, January 7, 2015
3:24 PM
3:24 PM
Hundreds of shipspotters lined the shores at Felixstowe today to watch the world’s largest containership arrive on its maiden voyage.
It’s only call in Britain was at the nation’s biggest boxport, the Port of Felixstowe, and huge crowds were there to witness the mammoth vessel swing round Landguard Point and into Harwich Harbour.
Police reported traffic queues and congestion on the seafront.
The CSCL Globe wasn’t hard to miss – it’s the size of four football pitches – and it couild clearly be seen from the main seafront, cliffs, as well as Landguard and the John Bradfield Viewing Area, where it passed close by en route to dock at Berths 8&9.
Clemence Cheng, chief executive officer of the Port of Felixstowe, said: “We are delighted that China Shipping has chosen Felixstowe as CSCL Globe’s first port of call in Europe. Our relationship with China Shipping dates back to 1999 when their first vessel called at Felixstowe, and we are honoured that they continue to make Felixstowe their UK port of call.
“We are the major gateway for trade between the UK and China and the CSCL Globe is a magnificent testimony to the importance of the Europe-Asia trade.
“We are continuing to expand our facilities and increase the number container cranes to handle these very large ships.
“Together with the unrivalled skill and experience of our dedicated workforce, this enables us to turn even the biggest container ships around as quickly as possible, providing first class service to our customers.”
Zhang Zhendong, managing director of China Shipping (UK) Agency Co Ltd, said: “The CSCL Globe is the largest ship ever to be operated by China Shipping and the first of five similar-sized vessels we will be introducing into our Asia Europe Express service this year.
“The Port of Felixstowe has been our UK port of call since we first began the service 16 years ago. It has grown with us and continues to be the best location from which to serve the crucially important UK market.”
The CSCL Globe was built by Hyundai Heavy Industries’ shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. At 400 metres long, she is the length of four football pitches and weighs as much as 14,500 London buses and can carry 19,100 standard-sized boxes.
It will only hold the title of world’s biggest containership for a few weeks as the MSC Oscar, able to carry 19,224 boxes, will soon be afloat on the high seas.
Video: BCC Suffolk's @LukeDealBBC working hard at Felixstowe viewpoint this morning, awaiting CSCL Globe:
