Largest container ship due at Freeport

The world's largest container ship, the 8,500 TEU class vessel CSCL Asia, will be calling at the Malta Freeport tomorrow.

The vessel is operated by the China Shipping Container Line (CSCL) Co. Ltd and was built at the Samsung shipbuilding yard in Korea. It is operating the Transpacific service of China Shipping Container Lines.

The Hong Kong registered CSCL Asia has a deadweight tonnage of 99,500 tons, a service speed of 25 knots and a nominal carrying capacity of 8,468 TEU. The overall length is 334 metres with a width of 42.8 metres. This vessel is one of a group of five 8,500 TEU class container ships ordered by China Shipping Container Lines.

China Shipping Container Lines, part of the China Shipping Group, is the fastest growing and world leading major container shipping company, with headquarters in Shanghai, China.

CSCL has a young and modern fleet that comprises 114 vessels with a total operating capacity of 231,480 TEU, 28 of which have capacities of over 4,000 TEU. The average age of vessels with a capacity of more than 4,000 TEU is 1.6 years.

China Shipping (Malta) Agency Co. Ltd was set up earlier this year for the purpose of serving as a CSCL regional office for the Mediterranean with the main task being that of supervising the smooth operation of CSCL containers at the Malta Freeport. The Maltese operation is owned by CSCL and locally based company Medsea Shipping Agency Ltd with offices in Msida.

The CSCL Asia will be calling at the Malta Freeport on a regular basis.