One of the world's largest container ships, South Korea-based Hanjin Shipping Co.'s 8,000-teu Hanjin Boston, made its maiden call to the Port of Long Beach last week, docking under the bright red cranes at Total Terminals International's container terminal on Terminal Island.
The Boston is the first of five 8,000-teu ships coming to TTI's Pier T terminal through the end of the year. The Hanjin Miami is scheduled for its maiden call in August, to be followed by the Hanjin Baltimore, Yantian and Dallas. Hanjin is chartering the vessels under a long-term agreement with Conti Reederei of Germany.
Built by Hyundai Heavy Industries, the Boston has a carrying capacity of 77,000 deadweight tons. The ship is 984.3 feet long, which is longer than three football fields; 140.4 feet wide (or 17 containers across), which is 30 feet wider than the Panama Canal; and has a maximum speed of 25.2 knots.
"We are very pleased to welcome the Hanjin Boston," said Richard D. Steinke, executive director of the Port of Long Beach. "Not only can this vessel carry much more of the products that the public demands, but, per cargo container, its air emissions and fuel consumption are about 20% less than the previous generation of vessels."
The Boston is among a new generation of 8,000-twenty-foot-equivalent-unit vessels that have begun to call at the Port of Long Beach, one of the few US ports with the deep channels and large shipping terminals capable of handling these giant vessels fully loaded.
The 8,000-teu vessels will replace 5,500-teu ships. The Boston will operate in Hanjin's Pacific Express Service (PSX), which calls in Yantian (China), Hong Kong, Kaohsiung (Taiwan), Gwangyang and Busan (South Korea), Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle, then back to Busan and Yantian. Cargo loaded aboard the Boston in China will arrive 14 days later in Long Beach.
Five other lines have 8,000-teu ships calling in Long Beach: Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), China Shipping, China Ocean Shipping Co. (COSCO), and CMA CGM and Mediterranean Shipping Co.
