US port ready for largest-ever cargo ship

Mega ship Benjamin Franklin, longer than the Empire State Building and wider than a US football field, is sailing under California’s Golden Gate Bridge on Thursday. (Photo: Port of Los Angeles)

HOUSTON (ICIS)–The largest cargo vessel to dock at a US port is due to arrive on Thursday at the Port of Oakland, California.

Owned and operated by French shipping company CMA CGM, the Benjamin Franklin is 1,300 feet (396 metres) long and 177 feet (54 metres) wide, and has a capacity of 18,000 TEU (20-foot equivalent units).

The latest mega container ships, the New Panamax, measure up to 397 metres long and have a capacity of 11,000-14,500 TEU.

In addition, the load capacity of almost 590,000 cubic metres is equivalent to the volume of approximately 235 Olympic swimming pools.

The vessel successfully docked at the Port of Los Angeles on 26 December, and is due to dock at the Port of Oakland at 10:30am Thursday morning.

The vessel is due to deport the Port of Oakland on 4 January.