Upon arrival the tug boats Bugsier 3 and Bugsier 6 escort the vessel.
The huge vessel slowly comes out of the fog entering the port of Bremerhaven.
The CMA CGM MARCO POLO is serving in CMA CGMs FAL1 service connecting the Far East with Northern Europe.
The vessel slowly enters the turning area…
… since vessels of this size have to turn and need to be alongside the terminal with starbord side in Bremerhaven.
In front of Bremerhaven’s Stromkaje, there is a special turning area for vessels of this size.
During the turning maneuver the tug boat Weser assists and pushes the giant around. At this time the river Weser is closed for any other traffic off the Stromkaje.
The biggest container vessel ever built! For comparison: the tug boat’s length is 27 metres.
The vessel’s bow tug was Bugsier 6 until the tug boat’s rope broke.
In the vessel’s aft tug boat Bugsier 3 is assisting.
Since the vessel called the ports of Tangier, Southampton and Hamburg prior to Bremerhaven the draft is only 11.5 metres.
The huge gantry cranes are just high enough to serve vessels of this size.
All fastened…
In order to moor the vessel safely two teams of boat men take care of the vessel’s heavy ropes.
CMA CGM Marco Polo – the largest container vessel ever built – is arriving in Bremerhaven during her maiden voyage on December 14th, 2012.
Built: 2012 @ Daewoo Shipyard, Okpo – South Korea | IMO No.: 9454436 | Gross tonnage: 175,343 | Flag / Port of registry: United Kingdom / London | Flag: United Kingdom | Container capacity: 16,020 TEU | Length overall: 396.00 m | Max Draft: 16.028 m | Breadth: 53.60 m | Main engine power: 80,080 kW | Max Speed: 24.1 knots