Mumbai Maersk heralds first deep draught vessel

13 November 2023

The Mumbai Maersk has set a new record for the deepest draught vessel to call at the Port of Felixstowe.

The 20,568 TEU capacity ship arrived on Saturday 11 November from Bremerhaven with a draught of 16.8 metres and sailed 24 hours later with a draught of 17.0 metres.

The record has been set just four weeks after we announced the completion of our £130m project to deepen the channel and the subsequent work by Port of Felixstowe to deepen two of their container berths.

The depth of the approach channel was increased from 14.5 metres to 16.0 metres and Berths 8&9 increased from 16.0 metres to 18.0 metres below chart datum.

 

Mumbai Maersk docked at Port of Felixstowe. Photo credit: Jeff Welch

 

Sarah West, CEO of the Authority, said:

“The deepening of the approach channel was both a significant technical challenge and a major financial investment for the Authority. We were delighted with the outcome and are hugely encouraged to see that it is already paying dividends. Harwich Haven and the Port of Felixstowe are the main gateway for UK containerised trade and by working together we will ensure we continue to offer the right facilities and highest levels of service to our mutual customers.”

 

Commenting on the improvements, Robert Ashton, Chief Operating Officer at the Port of Felixstowe, said:

“There has been a steady increase in recent years in the number of the latest generation of mega-vessels serving the main shipping route into Europe. The Port of Felixstowe is the best located UK port for these huge ships and, working with our partners at Harwich Haven Authority, we deepened the main approach channel and Berths 8&9 to cement further that advantage.

 

The deeper channel provides a level of access matched nowhere else in the country. It not only allows deeper vessels to call but also more ultra-large ships to be handled on each tide. With a short channel, close to the pilot station and ports of North Europe it is better for service, cutting emissions and reducing costs.”

 

The Mumbai Maersk operates on Maersk Line’s AE10 service between Europe and Asia.

You can watch a video of the Mumbai Maersk arriving here: