Giant Reefer Ship Makes Maiden Call in Rotterdam

Hamburg Süd’s Cap San Lorenzo docked for the first time in the port of Rotterdam on Thursday, September 4. At the Euromax Terminal, the captain was presented with the traditional port plaque   associated with a maiden call, in the presence of Port of Rotterdam Authority CEO Allard Castelein.

The Cap San Lorenzo is the fourth containership in a series of six newbuild vessels for the shipping line. The ship, 333 meters long and 48 meters wide, has a capacity of 9,600 TEU. With 2,100 connections for reefers, the ship, together with its sister ships, is the largest container vessel for these containers in the world. The transport of refrigerated cargo such as fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish is one of Hamburg Süd’s main policy spearheads.

The ship operates a scheduled service between the east coast of South America and Northwest Europe. Like most other South America services, this one also discharges first in Rotterdam, meaning that the expensive and sometimes perishable cargo can reach customers in the hinterland more quickly. In addition, the food-processing industry is highly concentrated in the Netherlands, therefore close to the port. In reverse, the Netherlands also exports a lot of produce (cheese, baby milk, onions, flower bulbs, etc.) in reefers. Thanks partly to this balance, Rotterdam clams a place as a port well suited for temperature-controlled cargo, which the port said is reflected in the huge number of connections for reefers at the terminals.

When the RWG and APMT terminals on Maasvlakte 2 open for business this autumn, several thousand more connections will become available.

portofrotterdam.com