HMM Algeciras: World’s largest container ship arrives in UK for first time

The arrival of the massive vessel had to be modelled on a simulator to ensure it could be carried out safely.

  Sunday 14 June 2020 11:25, UK

The world’s biggest container ship, around the same size as four football pitches, has arrived in the UK for the first time.

HMM Algeciras is so large its arrival had to be modelled on a simulator to ensure it could be carried out safely.

The 1,312ft (400m) long and 200ft (61m) wide ship is delivering a variety of goods at DP World London Gateway in Thurrock.

Its journey to the UK began in China and it has also been to South Korea, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.

Preparations started more than six months ago, with the Port of London Authority carrying out simulator modelling.Advertisement

The vessel is due to leave Britain on Monday taking UK goods back to China via Singapore.

Peter Livey, managing director for Britain at shipping company HMM, which owns the vessel, described its maiden voyage as a “major milestone”.

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He said: “Ships of this size give us the capacity and flexibility to get our customers’ goods to the right place at the right time.”

HMM Algeciras, an Ultra Large Container Vessel (ULCV), is sailing under the flag of Panama.

Ernst Schulze, UK chief executive of DP World, which runs the port, said the commitment of his staff has been “critical” to London Gateway remaining open throughout the coronavirus lockdown

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