Mega ships: Big, Bigger, “Zoe” – Handelsblatt

World’s largest container ship “MSC Zoe” in Hamburg

The MSC Zoe runs in the Port of Hamburg a: It is the largest container ship in the world

(Photo: AP).

Hamburg / Dusseldorf The largest container ship in the world has been christened in Hamburg on the name “MSC Zoe”. Godmother and namesake is the four-year Zoe Vago, a granddaughter of the company founder and MSC chairman Gianluigi Aponte.

The Colossus is 395 meters long, 59 meters wide and has a cargo capacity of 19,224 standard containers (TEU). As is customary in the company, the ship is named after a family member of the founder and chief executives Gianluigi Aponte. Godmother and namesake is is his four-year granddaughter Zoe Vago. The ship will leave in the direction of Antwerp and Asia Hamburg.

The mega-ship, which was built by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME), a shipyard in South Korea Okpo, exemplifies the race of shipping companies by size – and the associated decline in the sector. Only those who have the most efficient ships can survive in the fierce competition in the world’s oceans. As the second largest container shipping company in the world after the Italian-Swiss Maersk MSC has here good chances. This year it is already her third ocean liner, the stings with more than 19,000 teu in lake.

The “MSC Zoe”, which is three times higher than the Hamburg Michel is one of three identical container ships. The “MSC Oscar” and the “MSC Oliver” were already put into service in spring 2015. Finally, the “Oscar”

full loading had begun the new deep-water port in Wilhelmshaven. However, the “MSC Zoe” not reach the Port of Hamburg. Because the planned deepening of the Elbe so far failed in the courts, can the river only ships with a maximum draft of 13.50 meters to – and even then only at high tide. The mega-container ships come only so clearly when they are discharged to a part.

The technical progress is fueling the competition for the largest container ships in the world. Because technicians and engineers drive axles and marine gear stabilized and improved engines, increasing ocean liners were possible in the past few years. 1990 was built the shipyards for a maximum of 4,800 teu, 1997, she cracked the limit of 8,000. Since the past decade, the length continued to grow from 300 to 400 meters, the width from 40 to now almost 60 meters.

Because each container less crew, diesel is required, transport costs fell by about a third , Operators that are not surrounded at the mega-pots, fell economically lagging behind.