HMM Algeciras - The world largest Containervessel (24,000 TEU) today

A Korean shipbuilder built the world's largest container ship. The shipowner is HMM, Korea's only ocean shipping company. This giant vessel is expected to provide a much needed momentum for the Korean shipbuilding and shipping industries struggling from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The last month Jan Tiedemann from Alphaliner (BRS) in Hamburg has reported, that DNV GL has awarded Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding (group) Co., Ltd. an approval in principle for the design of an LNG-powered 25,000 TEU container vessel. Based upon the reported vessel dimensions, he reckons that the ship could actually have a capacity closer to 26,000 TEU.

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

On Monday, March 23, 2020, Admiral Osama Rabie announced the successful transit of the Italian passenger ship COSTA DIADEMA in the northbound convoy through the new Suez Canal, coming from the United Arab Emirates heading to Italy. Special measures were applied, as 65 Coronavirus cases were reported on board which required piloting the vessel remotely through pilotage team boarded on two escorting tugs in full coordination with the transit control offices and navigation monitoring stations in a first of its kind scenario in the history of the Suez Canal.

The pilot station Le Havre-Antifer-Fécamp christened, on October 7 in Le Havre, the "Sainte-Honorine", the sixth launch of its fleet.

Associated British Ports (ABP) the UK’s largest and best-connected port operator, has commissioned a fleet of nine new state-of-the art pilot boats from Goodchild Marine Services, representing an investment of around £9 million to further enhance port operations across its network.

Did you know? In Newcastle, marine pilot transfers are carried out mostly by helicopter. Helicopter transfers are used for several reasons including pilot safety and efficiency, and as the largest bulk shipping port on Australia’s East Coast, that’s the name of the game! #PortAuthorityofNSW #marinepilotage #helicopter #newcastle #newcastleharbour #shipping ••• Port Authority of New South Wales manages the navigation, security and operational safety needs of commercial shipping in Sydney...

Up close with Ever Forward: Massive cargo ship stuck on Chesapeake Bay for a month

Montrose Port Authority's new pilot boat was welcomed by water cannons as it arrived at its new home at the port of Montrose on Thursday 22nd December, making its journey from Ireland where the boat was constructed.
Read more about the pilot boat arrival on the Montrose Port Authority website: https://montroseport.co.uk/2022/12/23/pilot-boat-new/

Issues like the Covid 19 crisis and the moves towards increased autonomy appear to be driving a renewed interest in Shore Based Pilotage (SBP), nowadays often called Remote Pilotage.