The first 20,000-TEU Container Ship comes to Hamburg

She is a true giant of the seas. With a length of 400m and a width of almost 59 meters, the MOL TRIUMPH, the new flagship of the Japanese shipping company MOL Mitsui O.S.K Lines, counts as one of the largest container ships in the world. And she can load more containers than any other ship before her. With a capacity of 20,170 TEU, the MOL TRIUMPH has broken the 20,000-TEU barrier, which was considered unthinkable until a few years ago. On the evening of 15th May, probably around 10pm, this mega-carrier is expected to enter the port of Hamburg for the first time as part of its maiden voyage, arriving at the HHLA Container Terminal Burchardkai (CTB).

The MOL TRIUMPH was christened on 15th March at the construction site of Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea and handed over to the new MOL owner on 27th March. She is the first of a total of six identical ships of this 20,000 class.

For ports and terminals, such mega-ships are not only a challenge due to their size; the huge cargo volumes, which have to be turned over and redirected within a very short space of time, are also very demanding.

The HHLA Container Terminal Burchardkai has two high-performance haulage stations for the handling of the new 20,000-TEU container ships. Here, the largest container bridges of the Hamburg Terminal are used. Their outriggers range over the entire width of the mega-ships with up to 24 container rows. Such bridges are in use at CTB.

The MOL TRIUMPH is expected to leave the port of Hamburg again on 18th May around 5pm and, after further stops in Rotterdam and Le Havre, it will return to the Far East.

Source: Hafen-Hamburg