Global marine terminals operator DP World has received the largest containership to call at its flagship Port of Jebel Ali, the Magleby Maersk, which is on its maiden visit to the region.
The management and operations team at Jebel Ali rolled out a well-drilled operation to welcome, berth and service the mammoth liner with the clockwork-like precision that has made the container port the most productive in the world.
The 18,270 TEU capacity vessel was welcomed by Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of DP World UAE Region and officials from the Port of Jebel Ali who were also joined by Dubai-based Maersk Line top officials, including Mark Rosenberg, Head of Procurement and Contract Management at Maersk Line.
A commemorative plaque marking the occasion was presented on behalf of DP World to Captain Maagaard, Master of Magleby Maersk.
Jebel Ali is one of the very few ports in the Middle East equipped to receive containerships of the size of Magleby Maersk, a Triple-E class vessel with an overall length of 399.2 metres, which is the equivalent to four football pitches.
The Magleby Maersk moulded beam is 59.00 metres wide and the ship has a maximum draft of 16.50 metres. Maersk Line operates the carrier on its 2M Europe-Asia route.
Mohammed Al Muallem said: “Receiving and handling the Triple-E Magleby Maersk is another milestone for DP World and the Port of Jebel Ali, which is capable of handling the world’s biggest container ships, delivering efficiency that simply can’t be achieved elsewhere.
“The port is future proofed to handle developments in the industry and was inspired by the need for excellence envisioned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
“This event reinforces Dubai’s and the port’s role as a regional gateway for the new generation of mega liner vessels. I thank Maersk Line for their support and assure them that Jebel Ali will continue to deliver the best and safest port services in the region.”
Mark Rosenberg said: “Jebel Ali is a port of priority for Maersk Line vessels visiting this region. We chose DP World’s flagship port for the maiden visit by Magleby Maersk because of the exceptional operational efficiencies offered here.”
Jebel Ali is equipped with the most sophisticated ship-to-shore semi-automated cranes that are operated remotely from the port’s operations building.
With the completion of the 4 million TEU Terminal 3, the port will be able to handle 10 mega ships simultaneously.
DP World recently started the construction work on the brand new Container Terminal 4 which will deliver new capacity of 3.1 million TEU in Phase 1 by 2018, taking the port’s total capacity to 22.1 million TEU.
