MOL Triumph, the largest container vessel currently in service, called at Hongkong International Terminals on her maiden voyage.

“The fact that the world’s largest container vessel called at HIT on her maiden voyage signifies Hong Kong’s prominence in the global maritime industry,” said Gerry Yim, managing director of HIT. “At the same time, it reflects MOL’s confidence in HIT’s capabilities and efficiency. Hong Kong has completed the dredging of its channel to 17 metres to better accommodate mega vessels. HIT is therefore well positioned to meet the emerging needs of the cargo market with its capability to serve three such mega vessels simultaneously at our facilities. This capability has been made possible thanks to the co-management scheme for the 16 berths in Terminals 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 at Kwai Tsing Container Port, which has been running since December 2016.”

The 20,170 TEU ship is 400m in length and 58.8m in width, and is the first of six 20,000 TEU vessels for Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. being built by Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. It is being deployed on The Alliance’s FE2 Asia-Europe service.

“MOL would like to thank HIT and Transport and Housing Bureau on the momentous occasion of the deployment of the largest container ship to the port of Hong Kong,” said Akihiko Ono, senior managing executive officer of MOL’s liner division. “The increased deployment of our 20,000 TEU class containerships will help MOL foster stronger ties with our customers and play a historic role in the expansion of global trade.”

MOL Triumph began her maiden voyage from Tianjin Xingang on April 4, 2017, and has already called at the ports of Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai and Ningbo. She will also call at Yantian, and Singapore, before making her way through the Suez Canal to Tangier, Southampton, Hamburg, Rotterdam and Le Havre. She will call at Hong Kong again on the journey back to Tianjin Xingang, according to HIT.