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Two Container Giants Visits Austalian Port
Two of the largest-capacity container ships to ever
visit Australia are making calls to the Fremantle Inner Harbour
this month.
The first one, Maersk Skarstind, has already arrived in
Fremantle. Maersk Skarstind berthed around 9.30pm on July 15th
assisted by a pilot and three Svitzer tugs.
Capable of carrying more than 9400 twenty-foot equivalent units
(TEU) each-around double the number on most container ships
visiting Australia-Maersk Skarstind and MSC Elma are about 300
meters long and 48 meters wide.
While MSC Archimidis, which called at Fremantle late last year
for the first time, is 17 meters longer than the ships, Maersk
Skarstind and MSC Elma are wider, can carry more containers and
have a larger gross tonnage.
In addition, Maersk Skarstind is the first 'twin island'
container vessel to arrive in Australia.
The special design (see photo above), which separates the
wheelhouse and accommodation block from the engine room and
funnel area, increases navigation visibility and cargo-loading
capacity for ships that can carry more than 9000 TEU.
Fremantle Ports CEO Chris Leatt-Hayter said Fremantle was pleased
to welcome container vessels of the size of Maersk Skarstind and
MSC Elma. "The Fremantle Inner Harbour can handle ships of this
size and draft-the biggest container ships calling at Australian
ports-and we expect to welcome even bigger ships in the future."
In the past week, both ships have been calling at major
Australian container ports before they will make their last
Australian calls for these visits at Fremantle.
Fremantle is Western Australia's only dedicated container port
and Australia's fourth largest container port (by TEU volume).
Fremantle handled 788,266 TEU during the financial year 2018-19.
Almost $3.2 million of trade passes through the port every hour;
24/7.
Jul 17, 2019
