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進入《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》 Mega-carrier successfully docks in Kaohsiung port
The Benjamin Franklin, the world’s largest container ship, yesterday docks in the Port of Kaohsiung. It was the first time the harbor has accommodated such a large container ship, which is 399m long and 54m wide. Photo: Chang Chung-yi, Taipei Times
STRATEGIC MOVES: The Taiwan International Ports Corp said it worked closely with the Taiwan branch of CMA CGM to coordinate the docking of the ‘Benjamin Franklin’
/ Staff writer, with CNA
A giant container ship arrived yesterday, docking in the Port of Kaohsiung.
The 18,000 20-foot-equivalent unit （TEU） mega-carrier Benjamin Franklin started to sail into Kaohsiung harbor at about 7am and docked at the port at about 8am, assisted by port personnel who piloted the ship.
It is the first time Kaohsiung harbor has accommodated such a large container ship.
Taiwan International Ports Corp （TIPC） president Lee Tai-hsin （李泰興） said that before the arrival of the Benjamin Franklin, the largest ship Kaohsiung harbor had seen had a capacity of 13,000 to 14,000 TEUs and was 368m long and 51m wide.
The Benjamin Franklin is 399m long and 54m wide.
Lee likened the ship to an Airbus A380, one of the largest planes in the aviation industry, saying that the ship is a giant in the global container shipping industry.
Lee said that there are currently 37 container vessels with a capacity of 18,000 TEUs or more serving the sector.
The Benjamin Franklin was built last year and belongs to French shipping company CMA CGM SA. The company has assigned the vessel to a west American route, stopping in Hong Kong, Yentien in China, Kaohsiung, Long Beach in the US and Auckland, New Zealand.
The container ship was scheduled to sail into Kaohsiung from Yentien on Friday, but heavy fog disrupted its schedule.
Lee said that the docking of the ship has been a challenge for Kaohsiung harbor, but careful advance planning helped it overcome any obstacles.
He said his company had gone to great effort in coordinating with agencies to pilot the ship safely into port, adding that the TIPC had worked closely with the Taiwan branch of CMA CGM.
Lee said that the successful docking of the ship showed the efficiency of Kaohsiung harbor, adding that its arrival was evidence that the harbor can handle large vessels.
The Benjamin Franklin was scheduled to leave Kaohsiung for Long Beach after loading and unloading cargo yesterday.
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
