Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT) became the first terminal operator in the Middle East to handle the world’s largest container ship, 'CMA CGM Marco Polo'.
With a length of four standard football pitches (396 metres), 54 metres beam and requiring a draft of 16m, Khorfakkan is one of the few ports in the world able to accommodate Marco Polo’s massive 16,020 TEU capacity, reports 'The Gulf Today'.
The ship's arrival at KCT was marked with a presentation from Gulftainer to Captain Igor Sikic of the Marco Polo and CMA CGM representatives; Dubai Agency Deputy General Manager, Prinson George and Arnaud Coudray, Commercial Regional Director for the Middle East Gulf, Yakoub Abdullah, Head of Administration at the Department Of Seaports & Customs Seaports Authority and Tareq Al-Hammadi, Administration Officer at Khorfakkan Port.
The Marco Polo will proceed to its final port at Ningbo, China on 23 January 2013, having covered a total distance of approximately 20,000 nautical miles since the commencement of its voyage on 7 November 2012. It is the first of a series of three 16,000 TEU vessels from CMA CGM, that will all be named after great explorers.