Article

The World’s Largest Container Vessel “HMM ALGECIRAS” Transits the Suez Canal


by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 2 June 2020 1023 -

Text and photos by Suez Canal Authority

Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) witnessed the transit of HMM ALGECIRAS, the world's largest container vessel, on its maiden voyage since its launching last April. It transited among the south convoy, via the New Suez Canal, heading from Yantian to Rotterdam.

That was during the Chairman's inspection of traffic in the Canal. His Excellency followed-up the vessel's transit from the New Marina, giving directives that all necessary measure be taken to ensure its safe transit, like: assigning a number of highly experienced SCA pilots, providing the required navigation aids, like: escort tug boats, and real-time monitoring of the transit from the Main Traffic Control Office, and various traffic control stations.

And as per protocol in the Suez Canal Authority on receiving mega vessels transiting for the first time, Admiral Rabie delegated SCA Distinguished Senior Pilot, Capt. Hisham Fawzy, and First Senior Pilot, Capt. Medhat El-Naggar, to board the vessel and welcome its crew as well as present the Shipmaster, Capt. Jon Kiun, with a commemorative gift.

Admiral Rabie emphasized that the New Suez Canal has further cemented the Suez Canal's existing place as the lifeblood of world trade. It also increased its efficiency so it remains the best option by far to current and future generations of mega vessels, especially container vessels that gained great significance in the past years, in light of the competition between shipping lines to build the world's largest vessels to benefit from economies of scale and minimize operation costs.

His Excellency elaborated further that the SCA keeps a keen eye on the rapidly developing maritime transport industry, and is even a few steps ahead by means of non-stop developmental projects in the waterway. Those projects don't include the New Suez Canal alone, but extend to establishing new waiting areas to increase navigational safety in the waterway and best prepared in the face of emergencies, as well as enhance the quality of provided navigational services through developing traffic monitoring stations along the waterway, and upgrading the fleet of escort tugs and other auxiliary units that partake in the pilotage process in the Canal.

Adm. Rabie also stressed that the SCA is well aware of the challenges maritime transport is witnessing at the meantime as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also taking all the necessary measures and preventative precautions to best handle the situation at hand, as well as actively communicating with clients and consulting on how to achieve mutual interest. The Authority is also adopting a number of pro-active measures in the form of a bundle of incentives and rebates for various types of transiting vessels.

The record-breaking vessel has a capacity of 23,964 TEUs and is among the fleet of HMM, the South Korean shipping line, and is the first of twelve vessels of the same class, design and size contracted to be built by DSME (Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering) and SHI (Samsung Heavy Industries).

For his part, Capt. Kiun, shipmaster of the HMM ALGECIRAS, praised the navigational safety measures adopted by the SCA were an important factor in the safe and smooth transit of the vessel despite its rather large, unprecedented dimensions, and greatly valued the role of the SCA pilots, their professionalism, expertise, cooperation and friendly spirit.

The ship stands at 400 m. in length. Her width is 61 m. and her draught is 16 m.

She is equipped with operating systems that comply with IMO regulations. The upgraded design of the structure is meant to be more power-efficient, and thus, minimize the carbon emissions, to which the expected result is cutting 15% off operation costs.
What's your opinion on this?
Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Read more...

Article "The 20,000 TEU Club" - The fleet of the largest container vessels.

by Frank Diegel - published on 24 June 2020

The fleets of container vessels storing more than 20,000 TEU is growing. Today the 20,000 TEU Club includes 69 vessels with a total capacity of 1,495,798 TEU.

0

Video History: Red Pilots Guide Ships In Suez Canal (1956)

published on 18 May 2020

Suez Canal, Egypt
LS. Ship on Canal. Various shots of Russian Red Pilots, walking along quayside, having conversation continuing their walk, looking in a manual, before boarding launch. MS. Pilots on launch, flag flying. Panning shot of Tanker. Various shots, looking up at men on tanker deck, man climbing up a rope ladder onto deck. (F.G.)
FILM ID:2556.13

0

Video Maiden voyage of HMM Algeciras #1-Qingdao

published on 5 June 2020

1st 24,000 TEU vessel, 1st Containers loaded, 1st Port call Qingdao

0

Video EfficientFlow - STM in ports and narrow waters

published on 22 September 2020

Improved traffic flow converts waiting times into increased safety and bunker savings for large ships in the narrow Swedish and Finnish archipelagos.
Found on YouTube. Created by "Sjöfartsverket".
In the STM EfficientFlow project, the Baltic ports of Rauma and Gävle implement efficient port calls using real-time information. Improved traffic flow converts waiting times into increased safety and bunker savings for large ships in the narrow Swedish and Finnish archipelagos.

2

Video Rencontre avec un pilote maritime au port de Sète

published on 30 May 2020

Connaissez vous le métier de pilote maritime ? Rencontre avec Gabriel Charpentier à Sète dans l'Hérault. Lorsque les navires de plus de 55 mètres arrivent dans un port, les pilotes maritimes prennent le relais du commandant. Ils ont la responsabilité de faire entrer ces gros bateaux par tous les temps. Lors d'une escale, ils sont les premiers à monter à bord en pleine mer sur une échelle de corde de neuf mètres.
Reportage de Cybèle Plichart

1

Video Terms of Trade: Port Pilots. Port of Long Beach’s video glossary

published on 14 August 2024

We’re paying homage to some of the most skilled sailors around…Port Pilots. Learn why you always want them behind the wheel when you’re pulling into port on this edition of Terms of Trade, the Port of Long Beach’s video glossary.

0

Video Crowley Completes First U.S. Design for Fully Electric Tug with Autonomous Technology

published on 21 April 2021

Crowley Engineering Services has completed a design of the first fully electric U.S. tugboat with autonomous technology -- providing operators a sustainable and high-performing solution for ship assist and harbor services in any port. The Crowley design, powered by the expertise of recently integrated subsidiary Jensen Maritime, leverages a large battery system and power saving technology to operate in a fully electric mode while producing zero air emissions or greenhouse gases. The 82-foot...

1

Video M/T TOWER BRIDGE inbound to Europoort

published on 20 July 2020

The 186 m long M/T TOWER BRIDGE is inbound to Oil harbour 4, Shell 101 berth. We were assisted by two Boluda tugs, REBEL and HUDSON and the Rotterdam Boatmen.

1

Article EMPA Newsletter issue 002

by EMPA - European Maritime Pilots' Association - published on 3 August 2021

The European Maritime Pilot´s Association has released the new Newsletter issue 002/2021.

3

Article Watch out for hydrodynamic effects when manoeuvring your ship in restricted waterways

by SWZ|Maritime - published on 14 October 2021

Research on hydrodynamic interaction indicates that if the speed of the ship near a bank is too high, the rudder may be less able to cope with the forces induced and control will be lost. The Nautical Institute highlights this in its latest Mars Report, in which an LPG carrier hit a barge being towed by a tugboat as a result of hydrodynamic forces.

1