Press

Largest container ship in the world calls on Port of Antwerp-Bruges

The container ship MSC Loreto arrived at the port of Antwerp last night to load and unload containers at the MSC PSA European Terminal (MPET) at the Deurganckdock. It is the newest largest container ship in the world.

The ship can carry 24 346 TEU (20-foot containers). It is not only the largest ship ever to call at the port, it is currently the largest container ship in the world. A title it shares with its sister ship MSC Irina.

The ship started her maiden voyage from Ningbo (China) on 19 April and will depart for Felixstowe (UK) on 28 May. It 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...

Port of Antwerp-Bruges is organising five tours to view the MSC Loreto from the water on Saturday 27 May. All 750 seats were booked in just a few hours.

You can use the link below to download rushes and images of the ship in Antwerp: Port of Antwerp Media (portofantwerpbruges.com)

Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO Port of Antwerp-Bruges: "Calls by record ships at our port continue to capture the imagination. So today we are proud to welcome the MSC Loreto. This demonstrates that our port can receive the largest container ships. This positions Antwerp well for further increases in scale. 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."
Annick De Ridder, Vice-Mayor of the City of Antwerp and President of the board of directors of Port of Antwerp-Bruges: "As a world port, our port is the economic engine of Flanders. With a world port comes a world record. With the MSC Loreto welcoming not only the largest ship ever to call at the port, it is currently the largest container ship in the world. With a record ship comes performing infrastructure. We therefore ensure that the largest ships can continue to be handled at the terminals. Record ships also need sufficient container capacity. Additional container capacity Antwerp remains an absolute priority to keep playing at the top level of world ports."
Marc Beerlandt, CEO MSC Belgium: "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! This pleases MSC enormously and shows that the choice of Antwerp as a European hub is definitely the right one. The commitment of our MSC people, the productivity of the Antwerp dockers, the support of the industrial fabric inside and outside the port area, the excellent cooperation with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges port authorities create an excellent support base for further developments of our company."

 

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About Port of Antwerp-Bruges

With an overall throughput of 271 million tonnes per year, Port of Antwerp-Bruges is a critical hub in worldwide trade and industry. The port is a crucial link for the handling of containers, breakbulk and for the throughput of vehicles. Port of Antwerp-Bruges is home to 1,400 companies and accommodates the largest integrated chemical cluster in Europe. The port provides, directly and indirectly, a total of around 164,000 jobs and generates an added value of 21 billion euros.
 
The ambition for Port of Antwerp-Bruges is clear - to become the world's first port that reconciles economy, people and climate. As well as growing in a sustainable way, the Port also aims to focus on its unique position as a logistics, maritime and industrial centre and to take the lead in the transition to a circular and low-carbon economy. Together with the port community, customers and other partners, Port of Antwerp-Bruges is actively seeking innovative solutions for a sustainable future. High on the agenda is its responsibility for the environment and the surrounding society. 

The port sites of Antwerp and Zeebrugge are operated by the Antwerp-Bruges Port Authority, a limited liability company of public law with the City of Antwerp and the City of Bruges as its shareholders. The port employs 1,800 people. Johan Klaps is Vice-Mayor of the City of Antwerp and the Mayor of Bruges Dirk De fauw is the Vice-President of the Board of Directors of Port of Antwerp-Bruges. Jacques Vandermeiren is CEO and President of the Executive Committee, which is responsible for the port’s day-to-day management. 

www.portofantwerpbruges.com

The telephone number +32 492 15 41 39 is only for press inquiries. For other questions you can mail to communicatie@portofantwerpbruges.com

Contact

Havenhuis Zaha Hadidplein 1 2030 Antwerp Belgium

+32 492 15 41 39

press@portofantwerpbruges.com

www.portofantwerpbruges.com