UK: DP World Southampton Achieves Another Milestone

DP World Southampton marked another milestone yesterday when the world’s largest container vessel – the CMA CGM Marco Polo – made its European maiden call to the port.

Commissioned last month (November), the vessel has a capacity of 16,020 TEU (twenty foot-equivalent units)and is 54m wide and 396m long, making it 51m larger than the Queen Mary 2, the superliner regular at Southampton.

Calling at DP World Southampton, her only UK port of call, the CMA CGM Marco Polo will become a familiar sight at the terminal which has repeatedly been setting productivity records.

Charted on CMA CGM’s FAL 1 service she is expected to call at the port every 11 weeks, having completed her route around North Europe, North Africa, Malta, Middle East Gulf and Asia.

Chris Lewis, Managing Director, DP World Southampton, said: “Today we mark the latest milestone in the terminal’s history, handling the world’s largest container vessel and underlining Southampton’s capabilities and vital role in the forefront of global trade.

“With the container industry changing, these new giants of the sea will soon be regulars at the terminal and we are ready and waiting with a highly motivated workforce whose ‘can-do’ culture is inspirational.

“As we continue to focus all our efforts on providing fast, reliable and secure services for our customers, we are confident that our consistently high productivity levels will continue on these Ultra Large Container Ships and all others calling at the terminal.”

Associated British Ports (ABP) is the port owner and joint venture partner in DP World Southampton.

Doug Morrison, ABP Port Director Southampton, said: “CMA CGM Marco Polo’s call is great news for everyone connected with the port and the 10,000 jobs it supports across the region.

“We have now placed ourselves on the map as a terminal capable of handling not only the world’s largest container ship, but also similar 18,000 TEU vessels still under construction.

“With work well underway on the £150m redevelopment of berth 201/202, DP World Southampton will have an additional deep-water facility from 2014.

“Team this with the fantastic productivity levels shown in recent times, we have all the right ingredients to continue being one of most productive terminals in Northern Europe, as well as the most strategically located first and last deep-sea port of call in the UK.”

The arrival of the CMA CGM Marco Polo follows a record-breaking year for productivity at the terminal, which recently won a national award for being the most reliable UK port for its rail feed service and launches its new vehicle booking system (VBS Premium) in January 2013, further enhancing supply chain efficiencies.

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Press Release, December 10, 2012