The Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) MV Hoegh Target became the first Neo-Panamax vessel to call Port Freeport, Texas, after she was piloted into this US Gulf port on the evening of September 14.
A maiden voyage plaque was presented to Captain Shi and his crew recognizing its first call to Port Freeport.
“It is indeed a historic day for our Port, to welcome the arrival of the first Neo-Panamax vessel that has travelled through the expanded Panama Canal,” Port Freeport Commission Chairman Ravi Singhania said.
The MV Hoegh Target is the world’s largest PCTC with a carrying capacity of 8,500 car equivalent units. It is offering up to 6.5 meters of free deck height, 12 meters of ramp width and capacity to take cargo weighing up to 375 tons.
The Hoegh Target is the first of six Post Panamax vessels that will become part of Hoegh Autoliners fleet.
Hoegh and their terminal operating division, Horizon Terminal Services, came to Port Freeport in 2015, establishing a facility that exports Texas built General Motors automobiles and the import of both Buick and Chevrolet vehicles manufactured in Korea.
Port Freeport upgraded its terminal facilities to cater to Hoegh’s growing business.
“We converted over 25 acres into an Original Equipment Manufacture terminal with over 6,500 vehicle parking spots. Over 100,000 square feet of Port Freeport’s warehousing capacity has been converted into a first-class vehicle processing center,” said Singhania.