Ultra-large vessel 'HMM Algeciras' completes maiden voyage mission... Full load of shipments from Europe

HMM's first world-largest container ship is passing through the Suez Canal.

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 16th that the HMM (formerly Hyundai Merchant Marine) Algeciras successfully completed its mission of transporting export cargo from Northeast Asia to major European countries and departed from London Gateway Port, the final European port of call, at 6 p.m. local time on the 15th.

The Algeciras called at major European ports including Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Hamburg in Germany, Antwerp in Belgium, and London in the UK, after departing from Qingdao Port on the 25th of last month and stopping at Busan Port and China’s Ningbo, Shanghai, and Yantian ports. It will next call at Singapore, Ningbo, Shanghai, and Qingdao in China, and arrive at its final port of call, Busan Port, on July 22, concluding an 89-day voyage connecting Northeast Asia and Europe.

An official from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said, "The journey of the Algeciras, the world’s largest container ship, has attracted great attention not only in Korea but also at ports of call around the world," adding, "At its first port of call in Qingdao, China, it received a warm welcome and earned the nickname 'Seonwang (Ship King),' meaning the king of ships."

At Busan Port, a refueling operation involving two bunker vessels was conducted to supply 7,300 tons of fuel. This amount is the largest ever supplied to a single vessel at Busan Port.

On the 8th of last month, the Algeciras set a new world record for the largest loading by departing from Yantian Port, China, the last Asian port of call, carrying 19,621 TEU. This accounts for about 10% of the total weekly cargo volume of 200,000 TEU exported from Northeast Asia to Europe. Following the first vessel Algeciras, the second vessel 'HMM Oslo' and the third vessel 'HMM Copenhagen' also recorded three consecutive full loads, each exceeding the usual maximum loading capacity of 19,300 TEU for 24,000 TEU-class ships.

When departing from London Gateway Port, the last European port of call, the Algeciras loaded 19,499 TEU of cargo, which is 20% of the weekly cargo volume of 100,000 TEU exported from Europe to Northeast Asia. This exceeded the usual loading rate of 60-70% for Europe-bound Asia cargo, achieving a full load.

Minister Moon Sung-hyuk of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said, "The deployment of the world’s largest container ship has allowed us to regain the key international shipping routes that had been dependent on foreign-flagged carriers since the bankruptcy of Hanjin Shipping in 2016. This is expected to greatly contribute to HMM’s return to profitability," adding, "We will continue to do our best to expand the national fleet and sales network significantly so that Korea can leap forward as one of the world’s leading maritime powers."

HMM No.1 World's Largest Container Ship 'Algeciras' Sailing Schedule.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.