Following a recent announcement that third-largest shipping line CMA CGM’s Benjamin Franklin will be calling at the Port of Los Angeles for the first time on December 26, 2015, the carrier has released a factsheet showing the astonishing dimensions of the 18,000 TEU giant.
By deploying an 18,000 TEU capacity vessel to the US, Jacques R. Saadé, Chairman and CEO of CMA CGM aims to show the company’s faith in the long-term growth potential of the US economy, and its commitment to increasing its US market share.
The ship is longer than the Empire State Building and wider than an American football field, being 396 metres long and more than 53 metres wide.
(Source: CMA CGM)
In height, the vessel reaches 60 metres, which is the same height as a 20-floor building. Its highest antenna peaks at 70 metres.
All containers placed in a line would equal the distance between Santa Monica and Santa Barbara and its maximum load capacity represents the volume of 235 Olympic swimming pools.
The Benjamin Franklin produces as much energy as 900 Ford Focus cars and has the electric production of a city of 16,000 inhabitants.
Fact File: CMA CGM is a leading worldwide shipping group. Its 470 vessels call at more than 400 ports in the world, on all 5 continents. In 2014, the company carried 12.2 million TEU. With a presence in 160 countries, through its 655 agencies network, the Group employs 22,000 people worldwide, including 2,400 in its headquarter in Marseilles.
