The container vessel CMA CGM Pelleas has made its maiden trip to the Port of Melbourne’s Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT).
CMA CGM PELLEAS on the A3C service is a 10,028 TEU vessel with a length overall of 350 metres and a beam of 43 metres.
According to the Port of Melbourne, it is the longest ship to call Australia with a last port of call in Sydney. After Melbourne, it will proceed to Brisbane.
Captain Arun Rampal, Head of Marine Operations at the Port of Melbourne, presented the Master with a plaque commemorating the vessel’s first call to the Port of Melbourne.
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Saul Cannon, Chief Executive Officer of Port of Melbourne, said: “The arrival of CMA CGM Pelleas is an exciting milestone and is an insight to future Port operations.
“Innovation and investment in strategic infrastructure assets have demonstrated our commitment to sustainability objectives and a vision for the future.”
Shane Waldon, Managing Director at CMA CGM, expressed: “The deployment of the CMA CGM Pelleas on our A3C service represents an ongoing commitment to the trade between Australia and Asia.
“Our partners in the Port of Melbourne have been extremely supportive to ensure the smooth operations of this vessel. We will continue to work closely with our partners to offer a reliable and sustainable liner service to our customer network.”
Bruno Porchietto, VICT’s Chief Executive Officer, stated: “We are very proud to welcome at VICT the Pelleas as the largest vessel to arrive into Melbourne.
“The arrival of super-sized vessels is likely to become more common, following a global trend by shipping companies toward the use of larger ships, which are more efficient due to their carrying capacity.”
In July 2023, the Port of Melbourne reported that overall container traffic was lower compared to the previous year.