On August 26th, the Evelyn Maersk was the 100th ultra large container carrier (ULCC) to sail into the port of Rotterdam in 2010.
Maersk Line was the first shipping company to use ULCCs, in 2007. At the moment, the ULCCs of CMA CGM, Cosco, Hanjin and MSC also visit Rotterdam.
Virtually all of the major shipping lines are investing in these vessels, because transport by container becomes cheaper as more can be transported at the same time.
42 ULCCs are currently in operation around the worlds, and another 145 of these giants are on order from shipyards.
Port of Rotterdam Authority CEO Hans Smits commented: "The port of Rotterdam is ideally suited for these vessels with a length of around 400 metres. After a sharp fall in container throughput during the crisis, this market sector is recovering surprisingly quickly: in the first half of 2010, almost 18% more containers were handled than in the first half of 2009."
The ULCCs always moor in Rotterdam at the ECT, APMT and Euromax quays on the Maasvlakte. Recently, the Port Authority decided to invest a further €175 million in widening the Amazonehaven so that the southern side of the ECT terminal will also remain easily accessible in the future if increasing numbers of such mega ships come into operation.
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