The MSC LORETO has arrived at the Port of Antwerp to load and unload containers at the MSC PSA European Terminal (MPET) at the Deurganckdock.
With a container capacity of 24,346 TEU, the MSC LORETO is not only the largest ship ever to call at the port, but it is also currently the largest containership in the world, a title it shares with its sister ship MSC IRINA.
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The ship started its maiden voyage from Ningbo (China) on 19 April and will depart for Felixstowe (UK) on 28 May.
The vessel is 400 metres long, 61 metres wide and has 25 crew members.
The ship transports a wide range of goods from raw materials to finished products, such as machinery, plastics, rubber, electronics, furniture, and more.
“We are proud to welcome the MSC LORETO,” said Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
“This demonstrates that our port can receive the largest containerships. It is our ambition as a port to continue to grow in a sustainable way, with a firm finger on the pulse of the global economic situation.”
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Port of Antwerp-Bruges is organising five tours to view the MSC LORETO from the water on 27 May.
All 750 seats were booked, MSC reported.
“The interest in the arrival of the new record ship the MSC LORETO confirms that the activities in the port of Antwerp still capture the imagination of the general public,” said Marc Beerlandt, CEO MSC Belgium.
Despite calling the world’s largest containership, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges experienced a decline of 4.5 per cent in total throughput during the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year.
Earlier this month, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges launched the ‘D-Hive drone-in-a-box’ network to enhance security in the port area.
