Original news was published 09 September, 2017

The 14,400 TEU capacity CMA CGM THEODORE ROOSEVELT is the largest container ship to call at the Port of NY/NJ and pass under the newly-raised Bayonne Bridge.

The 14,400 TEU capacity CMA CGM THEODORE ROOSEVELT became the largest container ship to call the port of New York and New Jersey when it arrived at the APM Terminals Elizabeth container terminal earlier this week.

The ULCS also established a new record as the largest vessel to pass under the raised roadbed of the Bayonne Bridge, which now gives air draft clearance to vessels of up to 18,000 TEU capacity.

Until recently, container ships calling the Port of New York & New Jersey were mainly of the 5,000-8,000 TEU size class. The previous record for the largest vessel to call at APM Terminals Elizabeth was 9,600 TEU.

A welcoming ceremony was held at the terminal hosted by APM Terminals included leaders from CMA CGM, the Port Authority of NY/NJ, elected officials, importers, exporters, ILA leaders and other industry executives.

APMT's COO Henrik Lundgaard Pedersen said: “The ships of the future are here today and we want to recognize the Port of NY/NJ, CMA CGM and our Elizabeth team.

The vesssl was invited by the port authority to inaugurate formally he newly modified Bayonne Bridge as part of its maiden voyage to the USEC. The US$1.6B project, completed in June, raised the bridge roadbed by 64ft (19.5m) to 215ft, enabling ULCS to call terminals on the Newark Bay on the New Jersey side of the port’s inner harbour.

The ship, launched on 28th July in Yangshan, China, is undertaking its maiden voyage on the Ocean Alliance South Atlantic Express (SAX) service linking Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian and Hong Kong to Savannah, Charleston and Norfolk.

On 22nd August, it became the largest vessel, at 366m length and 48m wide, to transit the enlarged Panama Canal locks.

APMT adds that its modernisation proejct at Elizabeth will be completed in 2018. The 350-acre terminal is in the midst of a US$200M investment programme, with berth reconstruction and additional berths with dredging to 50ft.

Four new STS cranes with a 23-wide outreach will be added and a new, state-of-the-art truck gate complex will be constructed in previously unused terminal area, eliminating any construction zone impact to current operations.

Jeremy Ford, Head of Commercial for APM Terminals North America said: “These capabilities are conceived not only with our steamship line customers in mind, but also our landside customers."

*NEWS SOURCE