Khorfakkan welcomes 16,000 teu Marco Polo

Having seen volumes increase by 26% per cent at Khorfakkan in 2012, Gulftainer has ensured it stays ahead of the trend and the terminal is well prepared to handle mega-containerships beyond the 16,000 teu handling capacity.

“The size of containership vessels is only expected to increase as clients demand more cost effective movement of cargo, and operators demand greater fuel efficiency. Marco Polo is the first of a new breed of containership vessels, something that Gulftainer has pre-empted for many years, ensuring that its facilities are more than ready to accommodate these types of vessels,” said Peter Richards, Gulftainer’s Group Managing Director.

The Marco Polo will proceed to its final port at Ningbo, China on January 23, 2013, having covered a total distance of approximately 20,000 nautical miles since the commencement of its voyage on November 7, 2012. It is the first of a series of three 16,000 teu vessels from CMA CGM, that will all be named after great explorers.