"CSCL ASIA", the world��s largest 8500-TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) container vessel owned by China Shipping Container Lines Co. Ltd, succeeded on August 15 its maiden voyage and was assigned to transporting between Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang province to the western coast of the United States.

334 meters long and 42.6 meters wide, "CSCL ASIA" is a most state-of-the-art super container vessel with the world��s largest capacity and a speed of 25.2 knots (one knot is about 1.853 kilometers). The ship can hold 8, 500 TEUs and is equipped with 700 fridge plugs. Loaded 1, 500 standard containers, "CSCL ASIA" started its expedition to the western coast of the United States, which was a success.

Sources say the ship is the first of the five 8, 500-standard-container vessels specially built by China Shipping Container Lines Co., Ltd, the other four of which will be put into operation in the next one or two years. It is the first time for state-owned sea transportation enterprises to develop and run such super container vessels.

By People's Daily Online