Hong Kong Seaport Alliance announced the successful arrival of the OOCL Hong Kong and ten additional OOCL and Cosco Shipping Lines Ltd. mega vessels at the HKSPA Terminal 8 facility this week, just six months following the alliance’s formation. OOCL Hong Kong- known as one of the largest container vessels in the world, deployed along with the other mega vessels at the end of June for the OCEAN Alliance’s Asia-North Europe Service, which included Hong Kong as a port of call.

“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,” said Angela Lee, Commissioner for Maritime and Port Development and Deputy Secretary for Transport and Housing (Transport).

“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,” Lee added.

The massive OOCL Hong Kong container vessel boasts 21,413 TEU capacity and holds the title as the first in the world to exceed the 21,000 TEU capacity threshold. There are currently only 12 container vessels that can boast capacity of this size, and eight of them are among the mega vessels deployed during the OCEAN Alliance’s Asia-North Europe Service, including Cosco Shipping’s GALAXY. 

“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, said Andy Tung, Co-Chief Executive Officer of OOCL. “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.” 

“We are proud of being ranked as the World’s Best Transshipment Port by COSCO SHIPPING this year,” said Hanliang Zhu, Managing Director of the Asia Container Terminals Limited (ACT) during the welcoming reception. “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.”