Largest Vessel to Date Calls on the Port of New York and New Jersey

By
Mfame Editor
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15

The OOCL Iris, a 16,828 TEU container ship, pulled into Maher Terminals on Feb. 11, a new record for the Port of New York and New Jersey. That is the biggest ship to ever visit the port, beating out the 16,022-TEU CMA CGM Marco Polo that came in on May 20, 2021, reports AJOT.

Commemorating the Arrival

A small celebration was conducted to mark the arrival of the OOCL Iris and this achievement. The ship, owned by the Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), came from Asia on the 91-day Trans-Pacific ECX1 loop, visiting Hong Kong, Yantian, Xiamen, and Shanghai en route to New York. It then proceeds down the U.S. East Coast to Savannah and Charleston.

Innovation and Sustainability Features

Named after OOCL’s IT platform, Iris and her sisters are equipped with a smart integrated platform for gathering data, storing data, and transmitting data. The ship also carries an advanced energy efficiency system, for which it earned several notations for innovation and sustainability in shipping operations.

Port Infrastructure Investments to Support Larger Vessels

The OOCL Iris arrival signals the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s continued investment to accommodate more massive cargo vessels and keep the port competitive worldwide.

Key Infrastructure Enhancements:

  1. Harbor Deepening Project (1999–2016): The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Port Authority deepened the harbour to 50 feet to accommodate larger ships.
  2. Bayonne Bridge Raising (2019): The bridge’s roadway was raised to a navigational height clearance of 215 feet, allowing the world’s largest container ships to access New York and New Jersey terminals.
  3. Current Project with USACE: Plans are underway to increase the depth of pathways to marine terminals at Port Jersey and Newark Bay to 55 feet, further supporting larger vessels.

Economic Impact of the Port

The Port of New York and New Jersey is the busiest East Coast seaport in the U.S. and one of the top three busiest ports nationwide. More than 563,000 industry jobs were supported in the New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania region by port operations, reported a 2022 maritime economic activity study conducted by the Shipping Association of New York and New Jersey.

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Source: AJOT