The world's largest container ship, which is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), is owned by the French shipping line CMA CGM. It operates on the MEX (Medium Exchange) service, connecting ports in the Far East and the Mediterranean.

On Sunday, the Suez Canal witnessed the transit of the CMA CGM GRAND PALAIS, (IMO 9987225, MMSI 563318300 -sailing under the flag of Singapore. ), the newest and largest eco- friendly container ship, stated Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority. This was the ship's maiden voyage through the canal as part of a southbound convoy. It had safely passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait en route from Singapore to Malta.

Length of the ship

The world's largest container ship, which is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), is owned by the French shipping line CMA CGM. It operates on the MEX (Medium Exchange) service, connecting ports in the Far East and the Mediterranean. The ship is 400 metres long and 61 metres wide. It has a capacity of 23,876 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and weighs 240,000 tonnes.

A protocol for vessels

The Suez Canal Authority  SCA has a protocol for vessels that are transiting the canal for the first time. Lieutenant General Osama Rabie, the Authority's Chairman, has delegated Captain Samir Jaafar (Chief Pilot), Captain Magdy El-Rafei (Chief Pilot), and Captain Hazem Ghaith (Chief Pilot) to board the ship, welcome its crew, and present a commemorative gift to the ship's captain

Related : MSC Euribia, one of the world's largest cruise ships, has chosen to transit the Suez Canal.

Accommodate the newest and largest ships in the global container fleet.

The  Chairman of SCA emphasised that the transit of this giant container ship through the canal demonstrates its ability to accommodate the newest and largest ships in the global container fleet. It also highlights the canal's leading role as a safe and sustainable waterway, offering significant fuel savings thanks to its shorter route compared to other options. Adherence to the environmental standards set out by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is key to ensuring the sustainability of global trade passing through the canal.

Rabie further elucidated that their collaboration with the CMA CGM shipping line is ongoing and close. Despite regional challenges, ships belonging to the French group continue to transit the canal as a safe and preferred route

The efficiency and professionalism of the Suez Canal pilots

On the other hand, Captain Liang Zhihua, the ship's captain, affirmed that the ongoing development projects in the canal's waterway have successfully granted giant vessels greater flexibility and navigational safety during transit. He witnessed this firsthand during the maiden transit of the largest and most modern environmentally friendly container ship.

The captain praised the efficiency and professionalism of the Suez Canal pilots, noting that their accumulated expertise enables them to guide giant vessels and handle modern technologies. This demands exceptional navigational expertise, an in-depth understanding of Suez Canal navigation, and close collaboration between the ship's captain and the Authority's pilot.

Official Spokesperson for the Suez Canal Authority, George Safwat, stated 

Source: Press - Release received by Maritime Tickers

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