Spotted: PhilaPort Hosts Another Record-Breaking MSC Ship

MSC Shuba has become the largest container vessel to ever call at the Port of Philadelphia.

The 12,238 TEU Neopanamax docked at the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal on February 13.

Operated by Switzerland’s Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the 330-meter-long MSC Shuba B arrived from the West Coast of South America.

“Being able to handle a 12,200 TEU container capacity vessel is a game changer”, Jeff Theobald, PhilaPort Executive Director and CEO, commented.

“This size of vessel is increasingly being used as the workhorse for shipping lines around the world. It’s the reason why we are working so hard to make the necessary capital improvements which we have planned as quickly as possible,” he added.

MSC Shuba B took the title of the largest boxship to call this port from the 11,568 TEU MSC Avni which is also operated by the abovementioned company.

PhilaPort is currently implementing a USD 300 million infrastructure improvement plan which includes wharf strengthening, new cranes, paving and many other terminal improvements.

In 2017, the port realized 19 percent growth in its containerized cargo volumes handling 548,000 containers.

“It’s great to see this new class of vessel here before we have our new cranes and the official opening of the new deeper channel”, Tom Holt, President of Holt Logistics, said.