World’s Biggest Container Ships Return to Felixstowe

The Port of Felixstowe has been included for the first time on the schedule for Maersk Line’s AE7 Asia – Europe service. The first vessel of the service, the Gjertrude Maersk, called at 9.30pm local time on Wednesday 13th January 2010. The 7,929 TEU Gjertrude Maersk shares the AE7 service with the world’s largest container vessels, the Emma Maersk and Estelle Maersk, which have already made numerous calls to the Port of Felixstowe whilst serving on other routes over the past 3 years. David Gledhill, Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Ports UK Ltd, which owns the Port of Felixstowe commented: “The inclusion of the Port of Felixstowe on the AE7 schedule is a great vote of confidence for the port, and strengthens our existing relationship with a very important customer. Felixstowe is unique as the only UK port that can accommodate the world’s largest container ships. We already have a capacity and capability that no other port in the UK, existing or planned, will be able to match.” The port is not resting on its laurels however, and is already investing in the next phase of capacity, as Mr Gledhill explained: “The Felixstowe South development is the only additional capacity fully committed and under construction in the UK capable of handling even larger vessels. Together with our other assets which include the UK’s busiest intermodal rail terminal, a range of coastal feeder services, a flexible workforce and a commitment to service delivery, Felixstowe can offer importers and exporters a choice of transport solutions that are unparalleled and will remain so in the future.” As well as Felixstowe, the AE7 service will call at: Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, Algerciras, Salalah, Yantian, Hong Kong, Xiamen, Ningbo, and Shanghai.