The Malta Freeport yesterday welcomed China Shipping Container Line's new mega containership CSCL Asia, the first 8,468 TEU vessel to call at Malta Freeport Terminals.

The call marked a "historic achievement" for the Freeport since it is the first port in the Mediterranean to handle a vessel of this size. China Shipping Container Line's CSCL Asia and its sister vessel CSCL Europe are at the moment the largest containerships afloat in the world.

CSCL Asia, which berthed at terminal two south quay, has a stacking profile of 17 containers across, a deadweight tonnage of 99,500 tons, a service speed of 25.2 knots and 700 reefer plugs. The length overall is 334 metres, the width is 42.8 metres whilst its draft is 14.5 metres.

The vessel was built at the Samsung Shipbuilding & Heavy Industries in Korea.

CSCL Asia operates on China Shipping Container Line's AEX Service and called at the ports of Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Yantian, Hong Kong, Chiwan and Port Kelang before setting out on its 12-day journey to Malta Freeport.

The containership will continue to Felixstowe, Hamburg, Antwerp and Rotterdam before returning to Asia after discharging 1,044 containers and loading 168 containers at Malta Freeport.

China Shipping Container Lines commenced operations from Malta Freeport last year. The Chinese carrier is experiencing an increase in its business at Malta Freeport and is presently the second largest carrier of the Freeport.

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