It’s longer than four football pitches, it’s magnificent, and it docked in Britain for the first time more than 3 weeks ago before continuing its maiden voyage to Rotterdam and Hamburg. It is the CSCL Globe and it was, for a short while, the world’s largest container ship with a capacity of 19,100 TEUs. It was overshadowed on January 8, 2015 by the MSC Oscar which boasts a capacity of 19,224 TEUs.
Size does matter
Container ships seem to be getting larger and larger. The CSCL Globe, Triple-E and Oscar are more than three times bigger than the typical 6,000-TEU vessel from 20 years ago. Does this rapid development mean ships will continue to get larger? Perhaps not, as there is a limit to how big a ship can get. The limitations are determined by the size and depth of the major global harbors, by how tidal waves will be impacted by the arrival of such huge vessels, and by the architecture of the world’s trade arteries – the Suez and Panama canals.
Terminals fit for a king
What are container terminal operators doing to handle huge vessels such as the CSCL Globe and the Triple-E? Currently, container terminal operators collaborate with the authorities to deepen the sea level with the major ports. They are also investing in additional infrastructure and purchasing new land around their existing terminals. The size of the terminal cranes becomes more important due the ships’ width.
With so many mega-ships put out to sea, questions arise on how to plan and prepare for such massive capacities:
- What benefits do such big vessels bring to shippers and shipping lines?
- What are the challenges faced by the container terminals?
- How can container terminals overcome the complexity of planning for these mega vessels?
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We ask Frank Tinschert, Director for Logistics in EMEA, DELMIA Quintiq, for some answers. Watch the interview with Frank.
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Interested to learn more about smart container terminals planning and optimization? Discover now.
