The container ship HMM Algeciras — the largest container ship in the world — arrived at the Port of Antwerp last Friday to load and unload containers at the North Sea Terminal of container handler PSA.

The ship can carry 23,964 TEU (20-foot containers). The Korean ship was delivered on 24 April by the shipyard Daewoo Shipping & Marine Engineering's Okpo.

It is 400 metres long, 61 metres wide and has 23 crew members. The ship is from Yantian in China and departed for London on June 13.

Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO Port of Antwerp said the Port is delighted to welcome the HMM Algeciras — as he noted that the port remained 100% operational during the pandemic.

"In doing so, we are showing that our port can receive the largest container ships. This puts Antwerp in a good position for further up-scaling. It is our ambition to continue to grow as a port in a sustainable way, with a finger firmly on the pulse of the global economic situation" he said.

Annick De Ridder, port alderman: “Our port continues to dedicate itself successfully to sustainable growth and the arrival of the largest container ship in the world, the HMM Algeciras, is a great recognition of this. It is an incentive that continues to encourage us to carry on building tomorrow's port today. This is the only way that world players will continue to choose our city as their gateway to Europe.”