Munkebo Maersk, Biggest Ship Ever to Sail on the Thames
The 18,300 TEU Triple E container ship Munkebo Maersk became the largest ship to ever sail up the River Thames as it called at DP World London Gateway.
The 399 metre long Munkebo Maersk, which weighs in at 195,000 tonnes and is 60 metre wide is one of the largest container vessels in the world. She was helped into port by pilots from the Port of London Authority.
Cranes as high as 40 stacked double-decker buses are being used to lift containers off the vessel before it sets off for the Far East.
Simon Moore, chief executive of DP World London Gateway, said: “This is yet another record and landmark moment for DP World London Gateway. By welcoming the Munkebo Maersk we have demonstrated again that we are more than capable of handling the world’s biggest container ships, in this case operating on the Asia-Europe routes.”
It comes just weeks after the Edith Maersk called at DP World London Gateway, which at 366-metres, had held the previous record for the largest ship to sail up the River Thames.
The Munkebo, operating on Maersk’s new East-West Network, came just two weeks after DP World announced that it is moving forward with plans for a new 400-metre third berth at London Gateway, scheduled to be operational in the second half of 2016.
