The World's Largest Container Ship Algesiras, Setting a Full-Load Record, Returns Home After Completing Its First Mission

World's Largest Container Ship... Earns the Nickname 'Ship King'
China's Yantian Sets Sail with 19,621 TEU... Breaking Maximum Loading Record

The HMM Alherasis is moving at London Gateway Port, UK. Photo by HMM

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Je-hoon] The 'Algeciras,' the first vessel of HMM (formerly Hyundai Merchant Marine), the world's largest container ship, has completed its maiden voyage and is on its way back home.

According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the shipping industry on the 16th, the Algeciras departed from its final European port, London Gateway Port in the UK, at 6 p.m. local time on the 15th. The Algeciras will then call at Singapore, Shanghai, and other ports before arriving at Busan Port around the 22nd of next month, completing its 89-day maiden voyage.

The Algeciras, a 24,000 TEU-class (one TEU refers to a 6-meter container) ultra-large container ship, is the first of 12 vessels contracted by HMM with domestic shipbuilders in 2018. This vessel can carry 24,000 TEU-sized container boxes per ship, boasting the world's largest cargo capacity. This is why it has earned the nickname "Ship King" worldwide.

For example, if this vessel were loaded with ramen noodles, it could carry a total of 550 million packs?enough for the entire Korean population to eat for four days. Meanwhile, the crew required for operation totals 23, the same as existing 3,000 to 4,000 TEU-class vessels, which HMM explains ensures sufficient cost competitiveness.

President Moon Jae-in is delivering a speech at the naming ceremony of the HMM Algeciras held on April 23 at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Okpo Shipyard in Geoje-si, Gyeongnam. Photo by Yonhap News

Accordingly, the expectations of the Korean shipping industry and government, which have raised the banner of "Shipping Reconstruction," were high. President Moon Jae-in described the Algeciras at the naming ceremony last April as "a signal flare for the reconstruction of Korea's shipping industry."

In fact, on the 8th of last month, the Algeciras departed from Yantian Port in China, the last Asian port of call, carrying 19,621 TEU, setting a new world record for cargo loading. This corresponds to about 10% of the weekly total 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 full loads.

HMM Algeciras ship docked at Yantian Port, China. The HMM Algeciras loaded a total of 19,621 TEU at this port and departed, setting a new world record for the largest cargo load. Photo by HMM

As a result, various spectacular scenes were staged. At Busan Port, a refueling operation connecting two bunker vessels was carried out to supply 7,300 tons of fuel. This amount is the largest ever supplied to a single vessel at Busan Port.

When departing from London Gateway Port, the last European port of call, the Algeciras loaded 19,499 TEU of cargo exported from Europe to the Far East Asia region. This accounts for 20% of the weekly cargo volume (100,000 TEU) on the Europe-Far East Asia route.

The HMM Algeciras is receiving marine fuel from two bunkering vessels (in front of the HMM logo) at Busan Port. This gives a sense of the actual size of the 24,000 TEU ultra-large vessel Algeciras. Photo by HMM

Moon Sung-hyuk, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "With the deployment of the world's largest container ship, we have regained the key international shipping routes that had been dependent on foreign-flagged vessels since the bankruptcy of Hanjin Shipping in 2016. This is expected to greatly contribute to HMM's return to profitability." He added, "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."

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