The Hong Kong Seaport Alliance (HKSPA) welcomed "OOCL SPAIN, " one of the largest container vessels in the world with a capacity of 24,188 TEU, on her maiden voyage on March 25.

The vessel berthed at HKSPA member Modern Terminals, facilities marking a new record for the Port of Hong Kong as the first container vessel with the highest capacity of over 24,000 TEU calling the city.

In a statement, HKSPA noted that the vessel is deployed on OOCL's Asia-Europe service LL3 with a port rotation of Shanghai, Xiamen, Nansha, Hong Kong, Yantian, Cai Mep, Singapore, Piraeus, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Zeebrugge, Valencia, Piraeus, Abu Dhabi, Singapore and Shanghai.

"We are very pleased to know that the OOCL SPAIN, one of the largest container vessels with the most advanced eco-friendly and intelligent technologies, has called the Port of Hong Kong on her maiden voyage," said Liu Chun San, undersecretary for Transport and Logistics, adding that this also reinforces Hong Kong's position as a green, smart international maritime centre.

Horace Lo, group managing director of Modern Terminals Limited, also welcomed the maiden voyage of "OOCL Spain".

"It is a proud moment for all of us in the maritime industry as we welcome the OOCL SPAIN at our facilities. The maiden call of the vessel at Hong Kong highlights the operating capabilities of the port to handle the world's largest container vessels while reaffirming the city's position as an international maritime hub," Lo said.

Kenny Ye, chief operating officer of Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd. (OOCL), said: "OOCL SPAIN is extremely significant for our group. She is the first new vessel we have delivered to us in five years and the first vessel we have built since joining the COSCO SHIPPING Group. Her design includes several technological and structural breakthroughs in terms of size and capacity and in terms of eco-friendly features."

Ye noted that the investment in the construction of a state-of-the-art vessel like the "OOCL SPAIN" not only attests to OOCL's faith in the growth, importance, and resilience of world trade but is also a strong sign of the company's commitment to sustainability.

"We are very proud to welcome the OOCL SPAIN to Hong Kong, the home of this spectacular Hong Kong-flagged vessel, and also the home of OOCL," he added.

The "OOCL SPAIN" has been awarded three "Smart Ship” notations by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) in recognition of its use of intelligent technology to optimise operations, helping to improve fuel efficiency, structural health monitoring, and long-term navigational safety.

"HKSPA is well-positioned to meet the ever-changing needs of shipping lines as they deploy more and more mega vessels in their networks. Our state-of-the-art facilities and experienced teams are ready to efficiently handle this new generation of container vessels while providing unparalleled service to our customers," said Ivor Chow, managing director of Hongkong International Terminals.

"This further solidifies Hong Kong's position as a key player in the global maritime industry."