Margrethe Maersk, an ultra large container vessel (ULCV) owned by Danish shipping giant Maersk Line, called at the Cai Mep International Terminal (CMIT) on Monday, becoming the largest ship to visit Vietnam.
Capable of carrying 18,000 TEU, Margrethe Maersk is part of the Triple E class of vessels, the largest vessels in Maersk Line’s fleet.
Built at South Korean Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) shipyard in 2015, Margrethe Maersk has a length of 399.2 meters and a width of 59 meters.
The 195,100 dwt boxship will discharge cargo from Northern Europe, bound for Vietnam and other Asian countries.
The port of call is part of a trial process to determine the feasibility of Maersk Line’s Triple E vessels calling Vietnam as part of the company’s regular schedule. The company makes 13 calls at Vietnamese ports weekly, according to Maersk Line.
“The arrival of the Margrethe Maersk is a major milestone for CMIT and for Vietnam, as it demonstrates that this terminal can also serve as a regional transshipment hub for Southeast Asian cargoes, particularly destined for the Vietnam/Northern Europe trade lane,” Robert Hambleton, CMIT Managing Director, noted.
“We applaud the Ministry of Transport, Vung Tau Port and APM Terminals for undertaking the upgrades necessary to accommodate these larger vessels,” Giang Nguyen, Managing Director for Maersk Line Vietnam and Cambodia, said.
CMIT is a joint venture between Vinalines, Saigon Port and APM Terminals.
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