MOL TRIUMPH docks at Hamburg with ease

May 19, 2017: MOL TRIUMPH, one of the biggest containerships in the world recently arrived in Hamburg at HHLA Container Terminal Burchardkai (CTB). The new flagship of Japanese shipping company Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) is the first vessel with a loading capacity of over 20,000 TEU in the Port of Hamburg. Some 10,000 TEU was loaded or discharged at CTB for the MOL TRIUMPH that was scheduled to leave the Elbe conurbation again.

“It is an amazing moment to have the MOL TRIUMPH here in the Port of Hamburg,” said Jan Holst, director North Europe for Mitsui OSK Lines in Hamburg, on the arrival of the mega-ship. “Our shipping line has been really exerting itself, working towards this moment for the last three years. It makes you feel really proud when it actually happens.”

Previously, MOL’s biggest containerships had a capacity of some 14,000 TEU. “This is naturally a quantum leap for us in terms of volume, challenging the whole organisation. In Europe we have taken on staff in each port, 13 in Hamburg alone,” Holst added.

Not only for the shipping line, but also for the Port of Hamburg, a ship like the MOL TRIUMPH is a challenge. “I would like to thank all those involved, starting with the Harbour Master’s office, the pilots and HHLA, for their excellent preparation,” stressed MOL’s North European boss. “Thanks to their professional cooperation the MOL TRIUMPH reached the Port of Hamburg safely and without problems.”

The MOL TRIUMPH reached the Port of Hamburg punctually, with the maximum permitted draft. There the vessel made fast at HHLA Container Terminal Burchardkai, berth 5/6. “HHLA is pleased that with the MOL TRIUMPH it can handle and clear the first 20,000-TEU containership in the Port of Hamburg at its Burchardkai terminal. This first call underlines the successful relationship with our longstanding customer MOL,” said Jens Hansen, COO of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA).

“In recent years, HHLA, through investments in gantry-crane technology and storage capacity, has prepared with the objective of clearing mega-ships like the MOL TRIUMPH,” Hansen explained.

HHLA Container Terminal Burchardkai possesses two high-performance berths of the type required for clearing the new 20,000-TEU containerships. The Hamburg operator’s mightiest container gantry cranes are deployed on the job. Their booms extend over the entire 24-box width of the mega-vessels. Thirteen cranes of this type are in operation at CTB.