Press Release

On 25 March (Saturday), the Hong Kong Seaport Alliance (HKSPA) welcomed the OOCL SPAIN, one of the largest container vessels in the world with a capacity of 24,188 TEU, on her maiden voyage. The vessel berthed at HKSPA member Modern Terminals’ facilities marking a new record for the Port of Hong Kong as the first container vessel with the highest capacity of over 24,000 TEU calling the city.

Under Secretary for Transport and Logistics Liu Chun San joined the management teams of Modern Terminals and OOCL to go on board the vessel to greet the ship master and his team. Mr Liu said: “We are very pleased to know that the OOCL SPAIN, one of the largest container vessels with the most advanced eco-friendly and intelligent technologies, has called the Port of Hong Kong on her maiden voyage. Her calling reinforces Hong Kong’s position as a green, smart international maritime centre, and we would like to extend our heartfelt welcome.”

Horace Lo, Group Managing Director of Modern Terminals Limited said: “It is a proud moment for all of us in the maritime industry as we welcome the OOCL SPAIN at our facilities. The maiden call of the vessel at Hong Kong highlights the operating capabilities of the port to handle the world’s largest container vessels while reaffirming the city’s position as an international maritime hub.”

Kenny Ye, Chief Operating Officer of Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd. said: “OOCL SPAIN is extremely significant for our group. She is the first new vessel we have had delivered to us in five years, and the first vessel we have built since joining the COSCO SHIPPING Group. Her design includes several technological and structural breakthroughs, in terms of size and capacity, and in terms of eco-friendly features. Our investment in the construction of a state-of-the-art vessel like the OOCL SPAIN not only attests to our faith in the growth, importance, and resilience of world trade, but is also a strong sign of our very clear commitment to sustainability. We are very proud to welcome the OOCL SPAIN to Hong Kong, the home of this spectacular Hong Kong-flagged vessel, and also the home of OOCL.”

The OOCL SPAIN has been awarded three “Smart Ship” notations by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) in recognition of its use of intelligent technology to optimise operations, helping to improve fuel efficiency, structural health monitoring, and long-term navigational safety.

Ivor Chow, Managing Director of Hongkong International Terminals said: "HKSPA is well-positioned to meet the ever-changing needs of shipping lines as they deploy more and more mega vessels in their networks. Our state-of-the-art facilities and experienced teams are ready to efficiently handle this new generation of container vessels, while providing unparalleled service to our customers. This further solidifies Hong Kong’s position as a key player in the global maritime industry.”

The vessel is deployed on OOCL’s Asia-Europe service LL3 with a port rotation of Shanghai, Xiamen, Nansha, Hong Kong, Yantian, Cai Mep, Singapore, Piraeus, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Zeebrugge, Valencia, Piraeus, Abu Dhabi, Singapore and Shanghai.

Facts about the vessel:

Length overall – 399.99 metres

Breadth – 61.3 metres

Gross tonnage – 235,341

Container carrying capacity – 24,188 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit)

Builder – Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co., Ltd

Flag administration – Hong Kong, China

Please click the below link for the video of the OOCL SPAIN arriving at Hong Kong and berthing at HKSPA’s facilities.

https://www.modernterminals.com.hk/sites/group/media/normal/729_MTL_welcomes_OOCL_Spain.mp4