Second Zim mega vessel calls Kingston

The Kingston Container Terminal (KCT), for the third time in four months, has serviced a new-generation mega vessel.

The 349-meter long MV Zim Rotterdam, the second of this class of vessel to visit the island, is also operated by Zim Integrated Shipping Services Limited, whose Zim Antwerp, made historic calls to Jamaica in February and April.

The vessels each have a capacity of 10,062 TEU (20-foot equivalent units). The Zim Rotterdam travelled from Da Chan Bay in China and brought some 4,783 containers, comprising 8,567 TEUs.

The visit of the mega vessel Zim Rotterdam to the KCT provided another opportunity for crews at the terminal to become more familiar with the servicing of such vessels, which are increasingly being introduced into service at hub ports such as Kingston.

Productivity levels during the visit continued at an encouragingly high level with an average of almost 30 moves an hour.

Under the now substantially concluded phase-five expansion programme at the KCT, the terminal was equipped with the required cutting-edge equipment and additional berth capacity in order to service these vessels.

The Zim Rotterdam took on some 3,900 containers at Kingston before returning to Shanghai in China.