Spotted: Sea Giant Docks in Southampton

One of the biggest containerships in the world, the MSC Maya, owned by Swiss container line Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), made its maiden call at Associated British Ports (ABP) in Southampton on Tuesday.

The 395.4m long vessel, which can carry a world-leading 19,224 containers, is the first of the four Oscar class vessels to call at the port’s container terminal.

Named after Maya Aponte, the four-year-old daughter of MSC President and CEO Diego Aponte, the vessel features technology which makes it one of the greenest vessels on the sea.

Its visit is just another record-breaking call for SCT5, the new 500m berth at the container terminal worth approximately GBP 110 million (USD 164,2 million), operated by DP World Southampton and opened in March 2014.

In October, the port saw the deepest draft departure yet when the 2013-built MOL Quartz, owned by Singaporean Neptune Shipmanagement Services, sailed to the Far East, followed by the deepest draught arrival on record with berthing of the 2015-built CMA CGM Vasco de Gama last month.

“The arrival of the MSC Maya, together with our recent run of ultra large container vessels, is further evidence of Southampton’s ability to handle the world’s biggest ships,” Nick Ridehalgh, ABP Director Southampton, said.