EMEA News
Triple-E's Ok at Antwerp
The port of Antwerp confirmed Tuesday it is ready to handle the latest generation Triple-E class containerships.
"Tests by the Hydrological Laboratory of the Maritime & Coastal Service Agency and by the Flemish government have shown that the Scheldt is able to accommodate this type of vessel," the port's statement read.
"The vessels will be able to call at Antwerp, with a few modifications to procedures here and there."
With a capacity of 18,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), the first Triple-E class vessel was launched by Maersk on the Asia-Europe route in July.
At the time, Lars Jensen, head of Maersk Line's Asia-Europe operation, said they would have to operate below capacity as a 14,000 TEU vessel as many port gantries aren't tall enough to handle the additional boxes able to be carried by the new ships.
"We will operate it as a smaller ship for the first few months while ports upgrade their cranes," said Jensen said at time.
"You can't do much about this while the infrastructure is adapting to larger ships."
Hong Kong Asset Management (HKAM), China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL), and United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) this year have also ordered Triple-E class containerships.
