What's New

The Hong Kong Seaport Alliance (HKSPA) today welcomed OOCL HONG KONG, one of the world’s largest container vessels, on its maiden call to Hong Kong at the HKSPA’s facilities at Terminal 8.  The vessel, together with ten other mega vessels from Orient Overseas Container Line Limited (OOCL) and COSCO SHIPPING Lines Co., Ltd (COSCO SHIPPING), has been deployed on the OCEAN Alliance’s Asia-North Europe Service since late June.  The inclusion of Hong Kong as a port of call in this service re-affirms the city’s status as an international shipping hub and a key gateway to Mainland China.

Formed in January this year, HKSPA has completed its berth and yard planning strategies to provide enhanced services to customers.  The 23 berths under the members of HKSPA are divided into 3 terminal zones to provide greater efficiency to shipping alliances and individual carriers.

With a capacity of 21,413 TEU, OOCL HONG KONG was the first vessel in the world to cross the 21,000 TEU mark in May 2017.  Currently there are 12 container vessels in the world with a capacity of over 21,000 TEU and this OCEAN Alliance Asia-North Europe Service features eight of them, including COSCO SHIPPING’s largest vessel COSCO SHIPPING GALAXY, which called at Hong Kong earlier in the month on her maiden voyage.

In welcoming the OCEAN Alliance’s new service and COSCO SHIPPING GALAXY to Hong Kong, Angela Lee, Commissioner for Maritime and Port Development and Deputy Secretary for Transport and Housing (Transport), emphasized the multi-faceted appeal and new prospects for the Hong Kong Port.

“Hong Kong, despite being small in size, has been in the league of the world’s top ten ports for the past 30 years or so.  This is an enviable achievement not easy to accomplish.  Credits must go to our port operators for the provision of highly efficient and professional services to the international shipping community.  Coupled with our sound fundamentals built over the years, including our free port status, strong international connectivity, trusted common law system, and a level playing field for business, I am confident that our port would be able to further leverage on new opportunities presented by the Greater Bay Area Development, the Belt and Road Initiative and the New Land-Sea Corridor, and continue to thrive as a regional transshipment hub,” Ms Lee said.

Peter J. Levesque, Group Managing Director of Modern Terminals Limited said: “The arrival of the OOCL HONG KONG highlights HKSPA’s ability to handle the world’s largest container ships while emphasizing Hong Kong’s critical role as a transportation and logistics hub in the region.”

Andy Tung, Co-Chief Executive Officer of OOCL said: “As a Hong Kong company deeply rooted in the city, OOCL HONG KONG’s maiden call has a very special place in many of our hearts.  Containerships like the OOCL HONG KONG are important ambassadors of world trade and as a home carrier, we are very proud to have this vessel carry the name of Hong Kong, flying the flag of Hong Kong, and continue serving the industries of Hong Kong.  OOCL is very blessed to call Hong Kong our home and being an integral part of the city’s vibrant business community over the last 50 years, providing a vital link to global trade.  We like to thank the HKSPA for the wonderful hospitality and celebrating this milestone event together with us.”

Welcoming COSCO SHIPPING GALAXY’s maiden voyage to Hong Kong on 10 July, Lawrence Shum, Managing Director of COSCO-HIT Terminals (Hong Kong) Limited (CHT) also highlighted the unique offerings of the HKSPA.  “We are very pleased with COSCO SHIPPING GALAXY, the largest container vessel of COSCO SHIPPING, berthing at our facility in Hong Kong.  The combined facilities of HKSPA can handle up to eight mega vessels at the same time which provides the big container shipping alliances with the capacity and flexibility to include Hong Kong in their network,” said Mr Shum.  

“We are proud of being ranked as the World’s Best Transshipment Port by COSCO SHIPPING this year.  We will keep on working closely with the carriers as well as the shippers and other logistics providers to maintain Hong Kong as a reliable transshipment hub in the region,” said Hanliang Zhu, Managing Director of the Asia Container Terminals Limited (ACT), in the welcoming reception.

Chen Xiang, Deputy Managing Director of COSCO SHIPPING said, “The Port of Hong Kong is an important hub in our network.  In 2017, the reorganized COSCO SHIPPING adjusted the South China network and strategically shifted more cargoes to Hong Kong.  At the same time, the strong support of Hong Kong terminals on schedule reliability and service quality has contributed to our rapid and sustained growth in Hong Kong.”

The OCEAN Alliance’s Asia-North Europe Service started calling Hong Kong on 26 June with a port rotation of Hong Kong - Shanghai - Ningbo - Xiamen - Yantian - Singapore - Felixstowe - Zeebrugge - Gdansk - Wilhelmshaven - Piraeus - Port Klang – Hong Kong. 

Facts about OOCL HONG KONG:

• Length  – 399.9 metres
• Breadth – 58.8 metres
• Depth – 32.5 metres
• Container Carrying Capacity – 21,413 TEU (twenty foot equivalent unit)
• Builder – Samsung Heavy Industries, South Korea
• Flag administration – Hong Kong

Facts about COSCO SHIPPING GALAXY:

• Length – 399.9 metres
• Breadth – 58.6 metres
• Depth – 33.5 metres
• Container Carrying Capacity – 21,237 TEU (twenty foot equivalent unit)
• Builder – Jiangnan Changxing Heavy Industry Co., Ltd, China
• Flag administration – Hong Kong 

About HKSPA

The HKSPA consists of four terminal operators: Hongkong International Terminals Limited, Modern Terminals Limited, COSCO-HIT Terminals (Hong Kong) Limited, and Asia Container Terminals Limited.

Please click here for the video of the two vessels arriving at Hong Kong and berthing at HKSPA’s facilities.